Helen Marie (Lowry) Rogers

HAVERHILL - Helen Marie (Lowry) Rogers of Haverhill, MA, passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on February 3, 2022, after a long battle with breast cancer. She was the beloved wife of Joseph F. Rogers for over 66 years and a devoted mother to her three children, Shawn Rogers of Methuen, MA; Stacey (Rogers) Ives of Ithaca, NY; and Stephanie Rogers of Charlestown, MA.

Helen was born on April 17, 1933, to the late Robert and Mary (Tiffany) Lowry of Somerville and was a graduate of Somerville High School.  She had three sisters and one brother, and together with her friends enjoyed life in and around Somerville, dancing at the USO, The Totem Pole and the Inman Social Club (where she met Joe). After their marriage at St Joseph’s Church in Union Square in November 1955, the newlyweds moved to Camillus, NY, where Helen took classes at Onondaga Community College and worked for the New England Telephone Company.

In 1969 the family moved to Andover, MA, where Helen continued her schooling at Fisher Junior College and returned to work after the kids were grown, this time with the Andover School Department where she worked at Shawsheen School, West Elementary, and ultimately Bancroft School - the highlight of her professional career. She absolutely loved her Bancroft family, and they loved her, bestowing upon her a framed proclamation and “honorary degree in social work” for: “Her ability to make all feel special, young and old alike.  A constant smile, reassuring gesture, welcoming attitude. Patience, calmness, and sensibility in the face of any adversity. Celebration of everyone’s successes and compassion for their losses. Wealth of knowledge and information pertaining to any and all areas of school operation. Coordination of school activities, leaving no detail unattended. Gracious acceptance of never-ending invitations to consume children’s birthday cupcakes, cookies, rice krispie treats, etc. And finally, the capability to serve and function as the face and the heart of Bancroft School.”

Outside of work, Helen cherished time with her loving husband and best friend Joe, enjoying adventures by cruise ship and by car (a favorite activity was turning down a road we’d never gone down before, just to see what was there). A life-long learner, she loved reading, embroidery, knitting, card games, scrabble, and visiting with friends and family; she fell in love with technology later in life and spent many evenings in the glow of her computer screen playing online games with friends near and far or chatting on her iPad. A talented cook, Helen amassed an impressive collection of cookbooks and may be best remembered for her recipes, home cooked meals, and dinner parties filled with her infectious laughter. Her passion for the kitchen was eagerly shared with her granddaughter who now aspires to follow in Nana’s footsteps as a professional baker.

An endless source of wisdom and comfort, Helen’s strength and resiliency were an inspiration to all that knew her. While her spirit lives on, her presence is greatly missed.

The family wishes to extend its appreciation to the staff at Highpoint House in Haverhill for their devoted care and compassion in her final days. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the High Pointe Hospice House / Home Health Foundation, Attn: Community Engagement, 360 Merrimack Street, Building 9, Lawrence, MA 01843 or at www.homehealthfoundation.org/donate. Arrangements by Driscoll Funeral Home, Haverhill. For guestbook, visit www.driscollcares.com

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