Helen Lord

Helen Lord Naples, FL

Helen Genevieve Lord (nee Hansen), 86, of Naples, FL, passed away April 7, 2014. Helen was born on a rural farm in Hudson, IA on May 7, 1927. As she wrote in her bi ography, she was warmed after birth, in the oven of a wood burning cook stove. She was schooled in a one room school house, for the first 8 years of her education. High School was located on the grounds of Iowa State Teachers College. As it was wartime, there was no yearbook and the students spent time gathering newspapers, tin cans and other items to help the war effort. Soon after, Helen entered the Kahler Hospitals School of Nursing, which was on the grounds of St. Olaf's College in Rochester, Minnesota and graduated in 1948 as a Registered Nurse. The Kahler Hospitals Nursing School was associated with various institutions and due to the shortage of nurses during wartime; Helen was immediately placed into active nursing and worked at 3 hospitals including the Mayo clinic.

After graduation, Helen worked as a Dormitory nurse for Cedar Falls College and later in orthopedic surgery in Los Angeles.

After returning from Los Angeles, Helen enrolled in the University of Wisconsin for physical therapy where she met her husband Geoffrey and was married on May 17, 1952 in Cedar Falls. Geoffrey took a job in research for Johnson and Johnson in New Brunswick, NJ and the couple moved to South Brunswick, NJ where they lived for over 35 years. Instead of continuing with nursing, Helen chose to dedicate her time to raising a family and community service. As a mother, she raised three boys and was involved in all aspect of their lives from utilizing her nursing training in to tending to their assorted injuries to volunteering and support in their in all their activities.

Within town, Helen was on the Board of Education, Director of Home Health Aid, President of the federated Woman's Club, active in Meals on Wheels, the PTA, 4-H club, and a den mother for cub scouts. Helen was registered and recognized with the Women's Memorial in Washington DC and a member of the US Nurse Cadet Corp.

After retiring, Helen and Geoff purchased a home in Bonita Springs, FL in 1986 and split the seasons between Wellfleet, MA and Florida until moving permanently to Bonita Springs in 2007 and eventually Naples in 2013. While in Bonita Springs, Helen was very involved with the Art League of Bonita Springs, the Ladies League at the Estero Country Club and tutored English.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Geoffrey H. Lord; and is survived by her three loving sons, Anthony of Breckenridge, CO, David of Wellfleet, MA and Collin Lord of Boston, MA, daughter's in-law, Kim, Elizabeth and Kristine; six grandchildren, Kyle, Madison, Blake, Isabel, James and Patricia, cousin Marjorie Harned, her husband Lynn and her closest companion at the end, Isis, the cat.

Helen's hobbies included golfing, gardening, bird watching, knitting, cross stitching, crossword puzzling, walking, reading, traveling, attending the Naples Philharmonic and entertaining.

Helen's joy, spirit, smile and charity will be sorely missed by all that she touched and were fortunate enough to have met and know her.

A celebration of Helen's life will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Geoffrey and Helen Lord Memorial Fund by contacting Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank, Attn: Ann McGrath, PO Box 1857 North Eastham, MA 02651.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Garfield Funeral Care & Cremation Service. Naples, FL 239596-5288. www.garfieldcares.com