Obituary of Helen T. Maguire

Helen Theresa Maguire, 94, died on Sunday Sept. 18, 2011 at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth from complications of a stroke. Mark Twain once wrote, Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. Grey and young at the age of 94,- Helen Theresa Maguire has many wrinkles. And while her dermatologist and son-inlaw Richard Eisen may have helped to keep some of the wrinkles at bay, she certainly had a twinkle in her wrinkle. Helen Theresa (McGarry) Maguire was born February 19, 1917. She was raised by her parents Joseph McGarry and Catherine Rooney in the Marine Park section of Brooklyn, where she also lived with her sisters Catherine and Grace, and brother Joseph. Helen Maguire will be remembered as many things: a loving wife, caring mother, great friend, devout Catholic, and a teacher. She graduated from Hunter College in 1937. A member of the Alpha Delta Phi sorority, Helen liked to boast that she went to college during the great depression for $5, which was for the library fee. In 1941 her brother Joseph introduced Maguire to a friend and member of the army, Benedict Joseph Maguire. The couple hit off and began dating. They had not seen each other for 2 years when Helen received a letter from her future husband that his furlough was coming and to have her dress ready. The couple wed August 2, 1945. A supportive mother, Helen used her degree and went to work everyday while she raised 5 children. Her son Joseph Maguire reflected on Helens motherhood saying that despite having 5 children, She made every one of her children feel special and unique. She loved to cook and bake. She made dinner every night. Afterwards she cleared the table and would spend her evening sewing clothes for her girls. One time, despite having pneumonia she still threw a birthday party for her daughter Maryellen. Helen Maguire made friends everywhere she went, and kept them. Her best friend Eleanor Nace of Woods Hole, MA formerly Brooklyn can attest to this. The two met in 3rd grade and remained close ever since. The pair would share a cottage in Siesta Key, Florida every winter using the opportunity to rekindle their relation. Another of Helens long time friends is her sorority Sister Rita Stapleton of San Antonio TX, formerly Brooklyn. The two would speak regularly and visit whenever possible. They even cruised to Alaska when both were 90 years old. Phylis Glidden of Linden Ponds, became her most recent and best friend when Helen arrived at Linden Ponds. They met on Helens first day at community at the the Catholic council and remained thick ever since. The twosome would do everything together including playing bridge, dining and walking the halls. Glidden says what made the duo so close was they had so much in common with their deep faith and husbands in the military. Her faith was unquestionable. As a Roman Catholic, she attended mass every Sunday, said the rosary every day and prayed for everyone she knew. Her novenas special intentions were renowned for coming true in the oddest of ways. Helens faith was tested when she and her husband were involved in a head on collision. The doctors told Helen that her husband would never walk again. Helen prayed and said novenas and in the end her husband was able to walk with use of a cane. She used her degree and taught secretarial studies at F.D.R high school in Brooklyn. Beyond teaching her students, she never stopped teaching her family and friends. She was living history to everyone who listened. She loved to tell you stories of how her family had one of the first cars, how her grandparents made wine in the bathtub, or how she worked for Dutton Publishing, especially with E.E. Milne. Helen liked to think that her involvement in publishing led her niece Maureen to a career in English literature. She is survived by her 5 children, Benedict Maguire, Robert Maguire, Joseph Maguire, Maryellen Maguire-Eisen, and Grace Lind; her 11 Grandchildren: Christina Maguire, Elizabeth Lack, Daniel Maguire, Billy Lind, Catherine Maguire, Kaitie Maguire, Jimmy Lind, Scott Eisen, Joe Lind, Laura Eisen and Bobby Lind; her 5 great-grandchildren Collin Galinas, Ryan Galinas, Emma Lack, Ava Lack, Amelia Lack. A funeral Mass will be held at Saint Albert the Great Church, East Weymouth at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 21. Relatives and friends are invited. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helens memory to Childrens Melanoma Prevention Foundation, P.O. Box 254, Hingham, MA. 02043 or to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society @ www.lls.org.