Helen M. (Coleman) Stanton

Needham – Mrs. Helen M. (Coleman) Stanton, of Needham and formerly of Wayland, Waltham, Scituate, and Naples, Florida died peacefully on Thursday, September 21, 2017 at North Hill in Needham. She was 98.

Helen was the loving wife of the late James F. Stanton. Helen and Jim were married for 61 years and raised their family in the Piety Corner neighborhood of Waltham and on the shores of Mann Hill beach in Scituate.

Raised in Waltham, she was a 1937 graduate of Saint Mary's High School. Helen continued her education at Emmanuel College in Boston receiving a Bachelor of Science (B.S) degree in Sociology in 1941, and earning a Master of Science in Social Work (M.S.W.) from Boston College in 1943, and in subsequent years earning her LCSW license.

Helen believed in the power of education to change lives and continued to give back to each of the communities that fostered her love of learning hoping that her efforts would provide opportunities for young people to pursue their dreams. She became actively involved at Emmanuel College by serving on the Alumni Association Board and by being a member of the President's Circle for 15 years. In 1977, Helen was one of the first women appointed to the Board of Trustees of Boston College. She welcomed the opportunity to give back to Boston College by focusing her work on the Women's Resource Committee and on parent programs; she served as Trustee from 1977-1985 and Trustee Associate for many years thereafter.

Inspired by her father's dedication to his community as the volunteer Director of Public Welfare in the City of Waltham, Helen developed a lifelong interest in social welfare. After earning her M.S.W. Helen worked with families through both the Children's Aid Society and the Catholic Charities in the South End. She served on the Boards of both the Waltham Visiting Nurse Association (25 years), and the Waltham Hospital Association Board for many years. Helen also volunteered in the Social Work Department at the hospital.

Although these organizations benefitted from Helen's' commitment to them, the heart of Helen's life was her faith, her family, and her friends. Helen took the practice of "praying unceasingly" to heart, and drew strength and wisdom from it. Her husband Jim, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren formed the center of Helen's life. It was in their lives that Helen shone as a beacon of steadfast love. When challenges arose, Helen demonstrated her spirit of perseverance and courageous hope. When there was a party to host, Helen and Jim rose to the occasion. Every year, on Christmas night, extended family gathered in Helen and Jim's home for homemade pie, coffee, and lots of spirited conversation. When cousins came "east" for college, they knew Sunday dinner in Waltham was a guarantee.

Every summer the family gathered in Scituate, and lots of laughter, surf, and sand mixed together made for many a happy memory. Surfing big waves, collecting sea glass, competing in scavenger hunts, trying not to earn the jacket in the family golf tournament, "The Stanton Open", eating hot dogs at Saturday night cookouts, and playing in the follow up baseball game came to be the rituals that marked her family's life.

Early on, Helen and Jim forged lasting friendships that continued through their years together. Over 40 years ago, friends who grew up together in the city formed the Waltham Bridge Club. Though fewer in numbers, the spirit of laughter and support, so characteristic of its members, is very much alive today. Christmas Eve caroling in Piety Corner became a fond memory for all of the neighbors with many returning year after year for the event. Helen also showed that she could be competitive, winning more than her share of golf tournaments and participating in numerous charity golf events. She was a member of the Weston Golf Club in Weston, the Hatherly Country Club in Scituate, and the Wyndemere Golf Club in Naples, FL. Friendships formed around bridge and golf, educational causes and charity work, and most recently at North Hill, became life-sustaining through to the very last days of Helen's life. All are agreed that Helen will be greatly missed and remembered with great humor and deep affection.

Helen was the beloved mother of the late J. Francis Stanton, Jayne E. Stanton, and Robert J. Stanton; devoted daughter of the late Martin J. and Elizabeth (McCaul) Coleman, and cherished sister of the late George A. Coleman, Robert L. Coleman, Elizabeth (Coleman) Tully, and Martin J. Coleman, Jr.

A dearly loved mother and grandmother, Helen leaves her children, James F. Stanton, Jr. and his wife Patricia Deese Stanton of Newbury, Anne Stanton Mikulski and her husband Leonard of Waltham and Edward M. "Ned" Stanton and his wife Sheila Cullinan Stanton of Needham; her daughter in-law, Julie Hamel Stanton of Wayland and her treasured grandchildren, Ben Stanton and his wife Lucy Mackinnon of Brooklyn, NY, Geoffrey Stanton and his fiancé Shikena Burt of Waltham, Kate Kahn and her husband Greg of Reston, VA, Emily Stanton of Waltham, Elizabeth Blumenfeld and her husband Oran of McKinney, TX, Lisa Walsh and her husband Brian of Walpole, Erika Jane Stanton, Tatiana May Stanton, Charles Stanton, and Nicole Stanton all of Needham, and her stepgrandchildren, Brian Deese and his wife Kara of Brookline, Heather Deese and her husband Brendan Riordan of Rockport, ME. Helen also leaves her great-grandchildren, Henry James Stanton, Hailey and Kellan Stanton, Robert and Nathan Kahn, Sean and Brendan Blumenfeld, Brayden Coleman Walsh, and stepgreat-grandchildren Quinn and Laura Riordan, Adeline and Clark Deese.

In addition, Helen will be remembered fondly by her brother-in-law Vincent P. Stanton and his wife, Maryalice, of Watertown, Sister Ann Stanton of Buffalo, New York, and by many nieces and nephews who have been so dear to her.

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 26th from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and again at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Ignatius Church, 28 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Helen's honor may be made to The Jayne E. Stanton Scholarship Fund, Emmanuel College Development Office, 400 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115 or to The Helen Coleman Stanton, M.S.W. '43 Scholarship Fund, Boston College Office of University Advancement, Cadigan Alumni Center, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.