PRESQUE ISLE – Helen M. Craine, 83, died Saturday morning, Oct. 17, 2009, at a Mars Hill health care facility. She was born Dec. 12, 1925, in Hodgdon, the daughter of James W. and Elva (Victory) McGillicuddy. Helen grew up in Hodgdon, one of eight children, and graduated from Hodgdon High School in 1945. On April 12, 1948, she married Edmund Craine and the two began a long and devoted life together that resulted in many memories for those who knew her. She will be remembered for being a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She loved taking care of others and was especially good at pulling teeth and removing slivers. She was famous for her homemade doughnuts, sugar cookies and jelly. Helen was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Presque Isle, and Daughters of Isabella. In their younger years Helen and Ed were avid square dancers in the Spud Shufflers, and Helen was an accomplished bowler for many years. She is survived by her husband, Ed of Presque Isle; four daughters and their husbands, Linda Libby and Floyd of Brewer, Nancy and Jerry Shea of Middlebury, Vt., Margaret and Kevin Griffeth of Portland and Lorraine Riesold of South Portland; a son, Michael Craine and his wife, Deborah, of Hanahan, S.C.; 10 grandchildren, Jennifer Trombley, Lesley Gaudreau and her husband, Shawn, Jake, Sarah and Julie Trombley, John Shea and his wife, Nora, Danielle Riesold, Bennett Craine and his wife, Megan, and Griffin and Erin Craine; 12 great-grandchildren, Cameron, Rachel, Hailey, Ryan, Lydia, Julia, Andrew, William, Adrian, Jaylen, Chloe and Gavin; a sister, Ruth Rau of Phoenix; and sisters-in-law, Pauline, Mary and Ruth McGillicuddy. She was predeceased by siblings, Margaret Welton, John, Maurice, Gerald and Donald McGillicuddy and Alice O’Donnell. The family expresses many thanks to all the health care professionals at Mars Hill Nursing Home. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with the Very Rev. Jean Paul LaBrie officiating. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Monday at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle. Interment will be at Fairmount Cemetery. Those who wish may make donations in her memory to Hospice of Aroostook, P.O. Box 688, Caribou, ME 04736 or the American Cancer Society New England Division, Inc., One Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086. Condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com.
HELEN M. CRAINE
