Helen Louise Rhodes

Helen Louise Rhodes (Wetherbee) passed away peacefully on November 10th, 2025, at age 90. She was born December 24th, 1934, in Concord, MA, the beloved daughter of Roland and Dorothea Wetherbee (Coburn).
She grew up in the small town of Boxborough, MA, and attended the one room schoolhouse on Picnic Street, moving on to graduate from Acton-Boxborough High School in 1952. After high school, Helen went on to earn her RN at Newton Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing.
Helen married her high school sweetheart Richard (Dick) Rhodes, in 1956 after he came home from his service in the Air Force. They resided in Boxborough, where they raised their two children. Helen was active in the community and could always be found on the sidelines of her kids' high school sports games. She would travel to New England and upstate New York to watch her son play college hockey. This carried over to her grandkids' events as time went on. She had a standing date once a week to take her oldest grandson golfing, traveled to New Mexico to see a snowboarding competition, and watched her granddaughter play softball in Florida. If there was a sporting event, she would be there.
Helen had a 33 year career as the Acton-Boxborough Regional High School school nurse. When she began her career, the student body was 600, and when she retired, there were over 1400 students. She was a key member of the Student Assistance Team that identified 'at risk' students who needed additional services. She was respected for her clinical skill, knowledge, and wisdom. Upon her retirement in 1998, speaking on behalf of the school staff, principal Steve Donovan described how Helen's personal warmth and calm approach would be sorely missed.
After retirement, Helen and Dick moved to their favorite place on Cape Cod, Wrinkle Point in West Dennis. They picked up golf, and Helen loved her time organizing and running the Wrinkle Point ladies golf group. She also loved boating, gardening, luncheons, and bridge games. Helen and Dick attended all the social events the neighborhood offered. In her later years, she simply enjoyed sitting on her front porch with Dick, waving to friends and neighbors on their evening walks.
Throughout Helen's life, she was constantly seeking new craft skills, from braiding wool rugs to doing needlepoint, knitting scarves for the family, making decorative plates, and creating much of the décor around her home. An appreciated piece of handiwork was the colorful boxwood trees she would make at Christmas and give as gifts each year. Her touch of artistry will truly be missed. She never forgot a birthday and always sent a card to each member of the family to acknowledge their day. She set a beautiful holiday table, which her daughter aspires to each Thanksgiving and Christmas. Helen is well known for her pies, her carrot cake, her creative sauces, and most of all her amazing clam chowder. So good that every family member measures other chowders against it, saying, "It's not Helen's!".
As she got on in years, Alzheimer's stole her ability to cook and to communicate well. Thankfully, it never took her spirit, her happy nature, her laugh, or her smile. For that, we are grateful.
The family would like to thank the 'angels on earth' at Windham Terrace, where she lived for the last four years. Their kindness and love showered her and surrounded her daily.
Helen leaves her daughter Sheryl and Matt Egan of Windham NH and her son Steve and Cara Rhodes of West Dennis MA/Stuart FL; grandson Bradley Egan and wife Kathy Gasperine, Concord MA; granddaughter Mallory and husband Jon Kidd, Atkinson NH; grandson Cameron Egan MD and wife Megan McDougall DMD, Seattle WA; Ryan Rhodes, West Dennis MA; Tucker Rhodes, Silver Lake CA; three great grandsons, Dermot Egan, Grayson and Asher Kidd.
Helen was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Richard A. Rhodes, with whom she is surely dancing now.
She leaves her cherished sister Phyllis Hultstrom, Feeding Hills, MA, as well as nieces and nephews. Helen was predeceased by her brother-in-law, Kenneth Hultstrom; brother-in-law, Robert Rhodes; and sister-in-law, Irene Rhodes.
Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours on Tuesday, November 18th, from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM in the Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Avenue (Rt. 111), Acton, MA. A service will follow at 12:00 PM in the funeral home, and all are invited to a luncheon at Wedgewood Pines Country Club, 215 Harvard Road, Stow, MA, following the service. The burial will be private.