Obituary of Helen Cecilia Gillette

Helen Cecilia Werner Gillette went to be with the Lord on September 3, 2018. She will be sadly missed by family, friends, and all who knew her. Helen was born on September 18, 1924, in St. Louis, Missouri to John and Helen Werner. Helen had five older brothers and one younger sister, and all predeceased her. Helen attended St. John the Baptist Parochial Schools in St. Louis. She was employed by International Shoe Company in St. Louis, when she met and fell in love with a dashing leather buyer from Oklahoma, Max E. Gillette. They married and started their life together. Helen was an active member of a number of Baptist churches as she moved with her family from Missouri to Ohio, New Jersey, Maine and Massachusetts. Most recently Helen was a member of Unity United Methodist Church in Unity, Maine, where she participated in the United Methodist Women’s Group and served as its president at one time. She also held other leadership positions in that organization. For many years, Helen accompanied various ministers of the church as they visited home bound community members in an effort to show them care and compassion. Helen belonged to the Waldo County Republican Women organization. Very dear to Helen’s heart was her involvement in an informal group, “WalkieTalkie.” What started as a group of dear friends who regularly met to walk and talk became a coffee group that met at various restaurants in Unity and continues today. Helen was a social being by nature, a great friend to many, visiting and supporting folks as they faced life’s challenges. She greeted everyone with her lovely, signature smile, making an effort to connect with people wherever she went. Recently, while working on her physical rehabilitation, Helen encouraged others who were doing the same. She even had her own cheering section of ladies who rooted for her as she walked the halls with her therapists, working to improve her strength. Helen was devoted to her family. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought her great joy. Helen and Max raised three children, Gayle, Donna, and Barry. Helen adored her six grandchildren, Laura, Krista, Naomi, Sarah, Bethany, and Emma, and nine great grandchildren, Natalie, Lena, Max, Sebastian, Addie, Abe, Brendan, Dietrich, and Johanna, and more to come…….A fond memory the grandchildren share is the special Christmas ornaments Grandma gave them each year. She worked to find just the right ornaments, keepsakes they will have always. Helen was an excellent cook and loved to garden. Even into her late 80’s, she continued to can and freeze produce from Max’s beloved garden and did a mighty fine job of keeping the family supplied with her very popular dill pickles. Helen spent many peaceful hours sitting on her deck overlooking the lake, listening to the loons, appreciating the beauty. Helen was predeceased by her husband of 69 years, Max E. Gillette. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Gayle and Andy Reed, Donna Gillette and John Moody, and Barry and Linda Gillette, grandchildren and their spouses and great grandchildren. Helen was a loving and beautiful human being who will be missed by all who knew her. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 2pm at Unity United Methodist Church, 13 Depot St., Unity, Maine. All are welcome.