Helen Cross Coombs

Helen Cross Coombs, 77, of Colchester, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Mansfield Place Memory Care in Essex.
She was born on September 8, 1948, to Helen (Graystone) and Reginald Cross Sr. Helen graduated from Rice Memorial High School and attended the nursing program at the Fanny Allen School of Practical Nursing. After nursing for some time, Helen went on to work for the City of Burlington at City Hall, and then in 1982 for Burlington Electric McNeil Generating Station until she retired in 2015.
Helen's life was filled with love, happiness, and fun. She enjoyed working with her co-workers, traveling and adventure, gardening, arts and crafts, decorating dollhouses, reading a good book, garage sales, spending time with her kitties, or just being outdoors enjoying a walk or chatting it up with whoever might be hanging out in the grove. Mostly she loved spending time with her family and her sweetheart, Tom. She was a loving and caring mother and a wonderful grandmother. Helen proudly attended her grandchildren's school, soccer, track, dance, and cheer events. She made everything special. Helen hosted tea parties, created treasure hunts, and was always excited for weekly family game night.
Helen was a strong, honest, independent person and a caring soul. She had a big heart and was grateful for all the wonderful people in her life. Her warmth, kindness, and gentle spirit will be remembered forever by those who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her daughter, Shanne Lovely and her son, David Coombs; grandchildren, Colby Nadeau, and his significant other, Isabella Sances, Ava Lovely, Brayden Coombs, and Grace Coombs. Helen is also survived by her remaining sibling, William Cross and his wife Gayle Cross; sister-in-law, Donna Cross; as well as many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. She was predeceased by her grandson, Bradley Nadeau; her companion and love of 36 years, Tom Carr; her brothers, Reginald, Thomas, James "Mick", Lawrence, and Patrick Cross; and her sisters, Mary Bean, and Jane Riley.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday, January 19th from 4-6 p.m. at the Ready Funeral Home Mountain View Chapel, 68 Pinecrest Drive in Essex Junction. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 20th at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Church in Colchester. Interment will immediately follow in New Mount Calvary Cemetery in Burlington.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Helen's memory to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, www.curealz.org.
A special thank you to Kelly and Kim for your tireless support, visits, arts and crafts, and outings to help care for Mom and to the handyman crew, Shawn, Brian Nadeau, and Brian Ploof for all of your time spent plowing, mowing, fixing, and cleaning which was essential for maintaining Mom's home during her final months. We also wish to express a heartfelt thanks to the entire staff at Mansfield Place Memory Care and Bayada Hospice who provided Mom with exceptional care and who treated her with such respect and grace.
Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services.