Helen M. Hegarty

East Falmouth – Ms. Helen M. Hegarty, of East Falmouth, died Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge. She was 76.

Helen was born in Winthrop on March 25, 1936, a daughter of the late Daniel P. and Helen M. (Frazier) Hegarty. She was raised and educated in Brighton where she belonged to Our Lady of the Presentation Parish. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame novitiate in Waltham in 1956 and served the community in various teaching capacities for the next seventeen years. She earned her bachelor's degree from Emmanuel College in Boston and a master's degree in business education from Boston University.

After the leaving the Notre Dame order in 1973 she became a teacher with the Middleborough Public School system. She had been a resident of East Falmouth since 1978. Until her retirement in 1999 Helen taught business education at the town's high school. In retirement she took up golf and could often be found playing a round at Holly Ridge Golf Club in Sandwich. Helen also had a keen interest in other sports and following the Patriots and Red Sox were favorite pastimes.

She leaves her sisters, Mary L. Hegarty and Ann T. Hegarty, both of West Newton and her sister-in-law, Anne A. Hegarty of Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Helen was also a sister of the late Rev. Daniel P. Hegarty, Richard P. Hegarty and William J. Hegarty and aunt of the late Jennifer A. Hegarty.

Family and friends will honor and remember Helen's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, April 20th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.