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(1936-2020)
Given that her family belonged to St. Ann’s Parish in West Palm Beach, Florida, she was a student at Rosarian Academy, and she had two cousins who were already Adrian Dominican Sisters (Sisters Rita Gleason and Mary Elizabeth Waldron), it comes as no surprise that when Helen Wilson felt a call to religious life, it was to the Adrian Dominicans.
Helen Margaret was the youngest of four children born to Spencer and Mary (Gleason) Wilson. Spencer and Mary were both natives of upstate New York and married after Spencer returned from service in World War I.
A son and a daughter, Bobby and Mary, were born in New York. After the Wilsons moved to West Palm Beach in the early 1920s, Angela and then Helen, born on March 24, 1936, came into the family as well.
All four of the children were taught by the Adrian Dominican Sisters: Bobby and Mary at St. Ann’s School, and Angela and Helen at Rosarian Academy for all twelve years of their education. “We had wonderful teachers and I loved the Sisters who instilled in us good study habits and the discipline was very tight, yet we knew the Sisters liked us and encouraged us,” Sister Helen wrote in her autobiography. “The Sisters always gave us [a] very good example and humor was mixed with their joy.”
Read more about Sister Helen (PDF)
Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221.
Leave your comments and remembrances (if you don't see the comment box below, click on the "Read More" link).
I am so sorry to learn of Sister Helen's death. She befriended me first when I needed temporary housing in Detroit for a summer internship, and again when I had an unexpected interruption in my housing some years later. I guess you could say Helen was my rapid-rehousing counselor! She was a wonderful community person and friend for those years I was ministering in Detroit. I will always remember her fondly.
Sister Helen was known to me as Aunt Helen, as she is my Great Aunt. Her impact on me was immeasurable. From allowing my brother and I to spend the night at the Cardinal Newman convent, providing me guidance for college, and even reading scripture during my wedding. Sister Helen had a keen sense of humor, loved to tell stories and gave wonderful hugs! In 2009, my wife and I were blessed to attend her 50th jubilee celebration in Adrian with my parents. She is now able to enjoy long talks with those that were called home before her! Sister Helen will be missed terribly, however she now has eternal rest with our God!
Sister Helen was my aunt and my Godmother.I have many memories of her life and kindness to all of our families, keeping touch and visiting us. Sister was a lot of fun and really lived the principles of the Adrian way.More than ever, she remembered how to keep people together and listened. All of us will miss her and cherish the memories of years past. Eternal rest unto her, O God!
Our Adrian Dominican cemetery with its circular headstones is a beautiful place of rest for women who gave their lives in service to God — and a peaceful place for contemplation and remembrance.
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