HERMON – Helen B. Haskell, 87, died peacefully June 17, 2013, in Orono. She was born Nov. 17, 1925, in Hodgdon, daughter of Simeon and Cordelia (Leavitt) Bell.
Helen graduated from Orono High School in 1942 and married her sweetheart, Lawrence Haskell. They lived in Brewer for many years before moving to the Blueberry Patch in Ellsworth. In later years they moved to Lincoln and after Lawrence died Helen moved to Hermon. Helen was an active resident of Boulier Place, Hermon, during the years she lived there. Helen loved the simple pleasures of life in Maine-tending to gardens, picking berries, camping at Matagamon, and salmon and peas on the fourth of July. Helen loved rug hooking, bird-watching, fishing, and family dogs. To the delight of her family she baked thousands of loaves of bread and many batches of blueberry bang belly and molasses cookies. More than anything she loved her family. Her patient and caring heart contained so much love it could not be contained and she was always ready to extend a warm welcome, share a family dinner, or offer a kind word to those her family brought home. Though she raised five children of her own, she was also grandmother to nine and great-grandmother to two, with another due in July. She was mother, “gram” and sister to so many more.
In addition to her parents and husband, Helen was predeceased by her brother, Kenneth Bell; sister, Dorothy Potter; granddaughter, Jennifer Wilson; and son, Michael Haskell. Helen is survived by her daughter, Ginny Wilson and favorite son-in-law, John, of Hermon; son, Kenneth Haskell of Henrietta, N.Y.; daughter, Catherine Haskell of West Burke, Vt.; son, Lawrence Haskell and wife, Natasha, of Springfield, Ill.; daughter-in-law, Carol Haskell of Bowdoinham; brother, Richard Bell and wife, Nancy, of Hinesburg, Vt.; grandchildren, Andrew and wife, Jill, Matthew, John, Christopher, William and Brian Haskell, Julie Wilson and Susan Caminez and husband, Brett; two great-grandchildren, Oliver Wilson and Mila Caminez; and several nieces, nephews and cousins and their families.
A celebration of Helen’s life will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, at First United Methodist Church, 40 South Main St., Brewer. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments in the church parish hall after the service. Interment will be at a later date at Maine Veterans Cemetery, Augusta. Gifts in Helen’s memory may be sent to Penobscot Valley Humane Society, 1 Park Ave., Lincoln, ME 04457 or First United Methodist Church, 40 South Main St., Brewer, ME 04412. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
Helen Marie (Bell) Haskell
