Of Waltham, MA died peacefully in her home Tuesday, February 17th 2015, at the age of 86. She was the surviving wife of the late Lawrence Arthur Oliver, also of Waltham, who passed away in 2008.
Mrs. Oliver was born Helen Rose Gorgone on July 28, 1928 in Waltham, Mass. Daughter of the late Rose and Gaetano Gorgone, sister of the late Joseph Gorgone, John Gorgone, George Gorgone, William Gorgone (William died while serving in the Army Corp. in WWII, Virginia Tobin, and Frances McDonald (all deceased). She grew up in North Waltham, where during World War 2 she took a factory job to help support her family and was an avid roller skater. Soon after the war she met Lawrence Oliver of Lapeer, Mich, who served in WWII with the Navy from 1944 – 1946. After discharge from military service he met Helen. They were married at St. Mary’s church in Waltham, Mass. in 1946. In 1947 they started their family and purchased the home in Waltham they would live in for the rest of their lives. She was a devoted wife, homemaker, and community member. She enjoyed participating in outdoor activities with her late husband, including sharing membership at the Woodville Rod & Gun Club in Hopkinton, MA, and sharing her husband’s enthusiasm for flying remote controlled model airplanes at a flying club in Burlington, MA. She enjoyed annual family road trips to her late husband’s family farm in Lapeer, Mich., and frequently visited her mother in N. Waltham, with whom she was very close. She was a devout Catholic and member of the St. Charles Borromeo church parish for over 60 years. Her four children all attended St. Charles school. Her daughter Linda Oliver Cormier passed away in 2009.
Helen is survived by her remaining children Beverly Jean Oliver, of New Brunswick, Canada; Steven Oliver and his wife Claudia of S. Berwick, Maine; and Deborah Oliver Parsons and her husband Tucker of Los Angeles, CA; her four granddaughters, Melanie, Julie, Casey and Ellie; and her five great-grandchildren Ben, Thomas, John, Anna Claire, and Sophie. She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend funeral services from the Brasco & Sons Memorial, 773 Moody St., WALTHAM, Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 9 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of Helen's life in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at Saint Charles Borromeo Church, 51 Hall St., at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held Friday from 4-7 p.m. Parking attendants will be on duty.
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