Helen May (Vaughan) Capen, formerly from Belchertown, MA, died at the age of 89 on Nov. 23, 2015 at the home of her daughter Cindy Chartier of Keizer, OR. Born in Dartmouth, MA, the daughter of Elliott and Villa Hatt Vaughan, she grew up in the Belchertown-Granby area and graduated from South Hadley High School. After graduation she joined the Cadet Nurse Corps, which was training for registered nurses during WWII. She graduated from Providence School of Nursing in 1947. She worked at the former Belchertown State School and Monson State Hospital in Massachusetts for many years. When she moved to Oregon, she was the Administrator of an Oregon Nursing Home and later worked with the VA in both Oregon and Wisconsin while raising her family. She retired in 1988 and moved to Arizona shortly thereafter. Helen enjoyed crocheting, crafting, reading and playing strategy board games. She most loved being with her family.
Helen leaves behind her husband Leon Capen of Marshfield, WI, her sister Virginia Moriarty of Chicopee, MA, as well as her nine living children: Sally Cary of Millers Falls, MA, April Humphreys of Hubbard, OR, Karen Westphal of Mosinee, WI, Chris Capen of Arpin, WI, Gary Capen of Greenwood, WI, Robin Capen of Harshaw, WI, Cindy Chartier of Keizer, OR, Clay Capen of Tucson, AZ and Judy Mohr of Keizer, OR. She will also be missed by her 13 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.
Helen was preceded in death by 2 daughters and by her sister Louise Atherholt of Belchertown, MA.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Nov. 28, 2015 at Simon-Cornwell Colonial Chapel- Woodburn. Helen will be laid to rest next to her daughters, Linda Laundry (d.2012) and Gail Capen (d 1971) in the Miller Cemetery of Scotts Mills, OR.