Helen Cavins Proctor Rozek

Funeral services and burial will be held privately. Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg is directing arrangements.



OBITUARY

Fitchburg – Helen Cavins Proctor passed away peacefully at home on May 28, 2016.

She was born on July 5, 1921 in Fitchburg, to Joseph and Ludwicka “Lucy” Rozek. She was raised and attended school in Fitchburg. She passed away six weeks prior to her 95th birthday.

In 1937 she went to New York with her sister to visit their father. That summer they both went to Grossinger’s in the Catskill’s to work as Chambermaids. During the school year, she worked at Yahshiva University in Manhattan making salads in the cafeteria. She met people from all over the country. She said that was an education in itself.

In 1939 she worked and met her husband at the World’s Fair. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was stationed at Fort Dix, NJ. When he was transferred to Fort Devens, they married and resided in Fitchburg. In the early 1950’s they opened a luncheonette and named it Helen’s Spa. She also worked and managed three Post Exchanges (PX’s) at Fort Devens. She was an avid reader and studied and loved Astrology. In the 1960’s she was on the radio with Jack Raymond answering calls pertaining to Astrology. She also loved listening to music, especially Eddie Arnold, Patsy Kline, Judy Garland, and Daniel O’Donnell. Her greatest love and joy was the love of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was the first woman in the neighborhood (the East Side) to get her license. She owned a Hudson, which at that time was a big automobile. She would take ALL the kids from the neighborhood blueberry picking, apple picking, fishing, and just walking into the woods to pick “Lady Slippers”. She was a self-educated and adventurous woman.

She is survived by her children, Judith Caputi of Westminster, Thomas (Errol) Cavins and his wife Maryann, Deborah Dawson and her husband Ronald, all of Leominster; grandchildren, Kristin Mathieu and her husband Bruce of Westminster, Michael Stemler and his wife Monica of Leominster; great grandchildren, Kristina and Kaitlyn Stemler of Leominster and Jackson Mathieu of Westminster. Helen is also survived by her dearest and long time friend (since grammar school) Mary Young.

She was predeceased by her first husband Thomas Cavins, her second husband Charles Proctor and her son Anthony Paul Cavins. She was also predeceased by her sister Judith Lupaczyk, brother John Rozek and son-in-law, William Caputi.

There are so many people to thank for our mother’s care during her last journey. We want to thank the Highlands, Dr. Ebb and her staff for the many trips our mother made there, and the attention that was given to her. She kept asking, “when am I going on vacation to the Highlands?”

The family wishes to thank Pauline Pietala, a neighbor and friend, for her constant care and concern for Helen, and also Debra Lahtinen for her help and support while our mother resided at the Sundial. The family would also like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Knute Alfredson and his staff (Michelle, Angie, and Rebecca) for his care and concern of Helen over the past several years. The family would also want to thank Beacon Hospice, and their staff, for the wonderful care our mother received in the last stages of her life. Last, but not least, our mother’s friend for many years, Annie DeMartino. Annie volunteered many hours to help the family with her care.