Mrs. Helen F. Pawlingaage 93 years, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2020 at The Village at White River Junction with her loving daughter Mary at her bedside.

Helen was born in Utica, NY on January 1, 1927, the youngest daughter of John and Mary (Bettencourt) Freitas. She was raised in Utica where she was a graduate of St. Francis de Sales High School. Helen received her nursing degree at St. Mary's School of Nursing in Amsterdam, NY.

On July 10,1954, Helen was married to Stephen J. Pawlinga at St. Francis de Sales Church in Utica, a blessed union of 42 years until Steve's death in 1996. In 2009, Helen moved to Hanover, NH where she lived with her daughter Mary Pawlinga Fillinger, son-in-law Mark Fillinger and granddaughter Caitlin Fillinger. Helen loved spending time with her family and reading good books. Her Roman Catholic faith was at the core of Helen's being throughout her life. Helen was a parishioner of St. Denis Catholic Church in Hanover.

Helen is survived by her children, Christopher Pawlinga and his wife Jaime of Glenville, NY; Mary and her husband Mark Fillinger of Hanover, NH; and John Pawlinga of Schenectady, NY; and her grandchildren, Caitlin Fillinger of Hanover; Thomas and Samantha Pawlinga of Glenville, NY. "Aunt Boots" is also survived by many nieces and nephews, including Irene Paradis of Westmoreland, NY; Pat Gaetano of Rome, NY; Peg Crowell of Denver, NC; and Larry Pawlinga of Utica, NY.

Helen was predeceased by her eldest son Thomas, her husband Stephen, her six sisters Louise Carpenter, Caroline Sharpe, Anna Freitas, Mary Dischiavi, Sr. Irene Freitas, Josephine Otto, and one brother Francis Freitas.

Helen's family is deeply grateful to Dr. Lisa Pastel, Mom's primary care physician at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, for her compassion towards, and outstanding medical care of our beloved mother through the years; to the staff on the Memory Care floor of The Village at WRJ for the compassionate care that they gave to Mom in her last 5 months of life; and to the dedicated team of the Visiting Nurse and Hospice for VT/NH for their wonderful support and care during Mom's final weeks.

Private graveside services will be held at the Holy Trinity Cemetery in Utica, NY.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, NH.