Helen J. Gilligan, 97, passed away on April 4, 2023. A lifelong resident of Pawtucket, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Helen (Scanlon) Page. She was predeceased by her husband of 43 years, James E. Gilligan. Helen taught for the Pawtucket School Department, for over 30 years, spending most of her career at Agnes Little Elementary School. She retired in 1984 as an Assistant Principal at Cunningham Elementary School. She was a parishioner of Holy Family Parish in Pawtucket for many years. As an active parishioner, she was a Eucharistic Minister and Lector. She was also a member of the parish council, picnic committee, bazaar committee, religious education teacher, and director of the parish's Catholic Charity Drive. She was also a former president of the St. Joseph's Women's Club and the Rosary and Altar Society. As the president, she led an annual fundraiser and raised thousands of dollars with the help of her fellow parishioners for her good friend Ann Burke's brother who was a missionary in the Philippines. She was also a past Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Thomas Moore Parish in Narragansett. She was a member of the Blackstone Valley Retired Teachers Association and the RI Retired Teachers Association. She was also a member of Quota International of Pawtucket, RI. She also volunteered at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket. She received her undergraduate and master's degree from RI College. She often volunteered for the college and was both the past president of the Alumni Association and Alumnus of the Year.

When she was not working or volunteering, Helen loved to garden and spent countless hours planting flowers at her houses in Pawtucket, Bonnet Shores, and Fort Lauderdale. She loved going to the beach and enjoyed many trips to Bonnet Shores and Fort Lauderdale and traveling to Cape Cod every year. She enjoyed going shopping, going out to eat, a good parade, and watching fireworks with her family. She particularly loved seeing the high waves during a big storm or hurricane at the beach.

She is survived by her two daughters, Helen-Mary J. Gilligan and Catherine A. Gilligan.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to a Funeral for Helen from the Costigan-O'Neill Funeral Home, on Tuesday April 11th at 10:00 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM in Holy Family Parish, 195 Walcott St. Pawtucket, RI. Burial will follow at Mount St. Mary's Cemetery in Pawtucket.

Visiting hours are on Monday, April 10th from 4:00-7:00 PM in the Costigan-O'Neill Funeral Home, 220 Cottage St. Pawtucket.

The family is grateful to all of the staff at Tockwotton on the Waterfront for the loving care of their mother.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Helen's memory to Holy Family Parish , 195 Walcott St., Pawtucket RI 02860, would be greatly appreciated.