Helen A. (Brophy) McNamara

Durham, NH – Mrs. Helen Anne (Brophy) McNamara of, Durham, formerly of Waltham, passed away on Wednesday, September 16th surrounded by her loving family in her home after a brief illness with cancer. She was 84 years old.

Helen was born on February 2, 1931 in Boston's Brighton neighborhood. She was the daughter of the late Albert L. and Helen E. (Olson) Brophy and was raised on Eddy Street in Waltham. She attended the Banks School in Waltham and graduated from Rosary Academy in Watertown in 1947. After high school she attended secretarial school and worked for two years at Commercial Credit in Boston.

In high school, while spending time at Walden Pond, Helen caught the eye of lifeguard Donald J. McNamara and won his heart over with coffee frappes. He was the love of her life. Helen and Don married on the 9th of September, 1950 at Saint Mary's Church in Waltham.

Life quickly became busy for the couple as Don began a career in the United States Air Force while Helen stayed home to raise their seven children. During their 58 year marriage, Helen guided her family through moves that took them across the country to 8 different states as well as to Japan. As a military wife, Helen often shouldered these responsibilities alone while Don was away serving in both Korea and in Vietnam. As with many military families, calling a place home is hard to do. Helen and her family were fortunate to summer for over twenty years on the Ogunquit River in Maine, a place they all loved and considered their true home. The "cottage" in Ogunquit holds so many of Helen's favorite memories.

Helen never allowed herself to be bored. She involved herself in many hobbies including bowling, painting, reading, knitting and braiding enough rugs to fill the family home. Over the last 30 years genealogy became her passion, driving her to travel to Ireland and to Sweden where she met many distant cousins. This genealogical research connected her to past generations as well as the current generation who have lost touch through either distance or time. Helen easily connected with people and maintained these relationships. She was a great friend and listener but also was never afraid to speak her mind. Her unique sense of humor and fierce love of family has been instilled in the three generations she leaves behind.

The wife of the late Donald J. McNamara, she leaves her children, Brian S. of Dover, New Hampshire, Thomas D. and his wife, Joanne of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Erin E. and her husband John Mullaney of Brewster, Maureen K. of Wells, Maine, Patrick L. and his wife Kelly Moulton of Cape Neddick, Maine, Timothy J. and his wife Kimm of Durham, New Hampshire and Steven K. and his wife Linda Cabeca of Waltham; her daughters-in-law, Priscilla Abbott of York, Maine and Jane Alessandrini of South Berwick, Maine; 21 grandchildren, Meaghan, Rory, Sam, Hunter, Caitlin, Keegan, Liam P. Sean, Molly, Kevin, Kyle, KC, Griffin, Cavin, Conor, Maggie, Liam J., Kate, Jessica, Joshua, and Nicholas; 4 great-grandchildren, Callie, Parker, Ryleigh and Brynn; her sister-in-law, Elaine Brophy and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Helen was also the sister of the late Kenneth Brophy.

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 Tuesday, September 22nd from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to Smile Train, P.O. Box 96231, Washington, D.C. 20090 - www.smiletrain.org - or to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 75817, Topeka, KS 66675 - www.woundedwarriorproject.org -