Helen Mako

Helen Mako died peacefully on January 10th in her home at the Sugar Hill Retirement Community in Wolfeboro, NH at the age of 94.

Helen was born on February 26, 1930, in Chicago, IL to Niels and Ingeborg Jensen. She grew up in Union, NJ and graduated from Union High School. She was employed by Union Center National Bank and achieved the level of Senior Vice President in that organization. She was a very active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Fords, NJ where she served as a ruling elder, deacon, and Sunday school teacher.

Following her retirement, she volunteered at Roosevelt Nursing Home for 20 years where she served as a caregiver for people who were bedridden. During her retirement, she enjoyed spending time with family, participating in church activities, and enjoying the outdoors. She traveled extensively with her husband, Andy, in their RV and often vacationed in New Hampshire until his passing in 2015.

When her husband died after 63 years of marriage, Helen moved to Sugar Hill in 2017 and led an active lifestyle until health issues began to slow her down. She continued to spend as much time outdoors as possible and enjoyed the views from the hilltop setting at Sugar Hill. She was embraced by the First Christian Church community, a number of whom regularly visited her at home and at church. She was also a beloved member of the Sugar Hill community who frequently remarked on her friendly smile and her desire to be out and about even when she was no longer able to physically manage it on her own. In the last years of her life, caregivers from Whole Hearted Senior Home Care were constant companions who became a special part of the family and cared for her deeply.

Helen is survived by her sister, Marian D’Onofrio, who lives in Bellingham, WA and by her sons, Andrew and his wife Nancy, Glen and his wife Alyssa, and Bob and his wife Connie. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Greg, Carolyn, Kelsey, Dakota, and Jeremy Mako. In addition to her parents and husband, she is predeceased by her sister Norma Mihalak.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, February 1st at 11am at First Christian Church in Wolfeboro, NH with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Christian Church, PO Box 681, Wolfeboro, NH 03894

To view an online memorial, leave a message of condolences or for more information go to: www.baker-gagnefuneralhomes.com