Helene Walsh

Helene Walsh (née Hayes), age 93, passed away peacefully at home on December 19, 2025, in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Born and raised in Naperville, Illinois, Helene was a devoted wife and mother. She was born to Bertha (Baumgartner) and John Hayes and attended St. Peter and Paul and Naperville High School. She worked at the Santa Fe Railroad in Chicago until she married the love of her life, Charles ("Chuck") Walsh, who preceded her in death in 2020. Helene and Chuck shared 59 years of marriage. During those years, they built homes filled with love, faith, and laughter in Illinois, Wisconsin, California, Connecticut, and, finally, in Maryland.

Helene is survived by her seven children Charles Mark, Matthew (Martha), Megan, Tim (Michelle), Luke (Amy), John, and Kerry; her seventeen grandchildren Morgan (Matt), Brennan, Connor, Peyton (Eric), Amanda (Matt), Brogan (Connor), Ryan, Luke, Cullen, Tim, Charlie, Will, Dolan, Tommy, Ronan, Elizabeth, and Grace; and six great-grandchildren. Every member of her large Irish Catholic brood felt her unconditional love and absolute selflessness. Although she rarely sat down to dinners herself because she was too busy serving her family, she was the heart of every gathering.

Helene's family feels profoundly blessed to have had her for so many years and will forever cherish the memories of a mother and grandmother who was deeply loved. Her kids know there is a special place in Heaven for her now, sitting with their dad, enjoying a Jim Beam and water, watching a "shoot 'em up" film.