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Celebrating the life of Mary Rose (Martino) Helms
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Obituary for Mary Rose (Martino) Helms
Mary Rose Helms passed away on August 16, 2015. A resident of Dixon for 89 years, she was 89 years old. Mary’s devoted husband of Seventy-two years, Donald S. Helms preceded her in death. Her four brothers John, Joe, Henry and James Martino also preceded her in death. She is survived by sons, Donald M. Helms, Paul H. Helms and his wife Kathi; daughters, Linda Vieira, and Patricia Davis; grandsons, David Vieira, Nathan Davis and his wife Melissa, Justin Davis, Martin Helms, Paul R. Helms, James Helms and his wife Monica; granddaughters, Rosanne Helms and her husband Edwin, and Lori Helms; great granddaughter Aleena Helms, and great grandsons Robbie Helms, Cooper Davis, and Monroe Davis.
Mary was born in her family’s home on October 5, 1925 in rural Dixon, where she was raised and educated. Mary's parents Peter and Vittorina Martino, immigrants to the U.S., settled in Dixon in 1908 and 1914 respectively, where they operated a small livestock and vegetable farm west of Dixon. As a teenager Mary helped her parents care for the family livestock, work in the fields, and with cooking and housekeeping. In the summers she worked in the Winters apricot sheds cutting apricots for drying.
In 1943 she married her high school sweetheart, Donald S. Helms, and began her own family. Mary spent her life taking exceptional care of her four children. She was active in her children’s school events, and was a leader in Brownies, 4-H and Dixon May Fair activities. Mary was dedicated to her family’s welfare and spent the major part of her life nurturing each and every member.
Mary was always generous with her family, passing down a rich heritage of sharing life experiences from previous generations to her children and grandchildren. She was a wonderful baker, and her greatest joy in life was doing whatever she could for her ever-growing family. Her hobbies were cooking and gardening and those of us who were lucky enough to be a part of Mary's life will miss her cooking for large family holiday meals and her common sense advice.
Family and friends are invited to attend a graveside service, which will be held Friday August 21, 2015, 11:00 am at Dixon Silveyville Cemetery.
