Emergency management planner, passionate gardener, lover of the outdoors
Helen Coke. (Courtesy photo)
Helen C. (Murphy) Coke, 90, formerly of Harvard, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, March 10, 2016, at Putnam Farm at Danvers. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 37 years, William R. Coke. She is survived by her loving children, Ellen Coke of Lynn; William R. Coke Jr. and his wife, Wendy, of Topsfield; and Paul J. Coke of Harvard; and by her two grandsons, Hamilton and Barrett Coke, both of Topsfield. She leaves her siblings, Mary Thulin of California; Teresa O’Malley and her husband, Walter; Agnes Murphy; Catherine Murphy; and Dorothea Hohl, all of Clinton. She also leaves her sisters-in-law, Joan Murphy of Worcester and Jeannette Murphy of Marlborough, and numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends. She is predeceased by siblings Grace, Bartholomew, John, George, and Francis Murphy.
Helen was born in Clinton to the late Bartholomew and Ellen (O’Malley) Murphy. She graduated from Clinton High School with the Class of 1943 and began her career as an operator with AT&T. Helen later went to work for the Massachusetts Office of Civil Defense in Harvard before establishing her career as a planner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in both Maynard and Boston, from which she ultimately retired after many years of service. A woman of great faith, she was a devout member of Holy Trinity Parish’s St. Theresa, the Little Flower Church in Harvard. With a love for the outdoors, Helen was a passionate gardener and was a member of the Harvard Garden Club. She baked delicious desserts from scratch that were enjoyed by all family and friends. Helen will be dearly missed and forever remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, March 15, at St. Theresa, the Little Flower Church, 15 Still River Road, Harvard, with burial in Harvard’s Bellevue Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Helen Coke to the American Cancer Society, 43 Nagog Park, Suite 110, Acton, MA 01720. Online condolences may be placed at www.philbincomeaufh.com.
