Helen Mary (Oski) Porter, age 97, peacefully passed away on December 16, 2019 at Pleasant View Center in Concord, NH where she had been a resident for the past six years. Her daughter, Linda, and son, Michael, and their spouses were with her when she passed into God's loving arms.

Helen, the youngest of eight children, was born November 25, 1922 in Bellows Falls, Vermont to John B. and Stephania (Sysko) Oski. At a young age her family moved to Hinsdale, NH where she attended school and graduated in 1940 as valedictorian from Hinsdale High School.

On November 27, 1941 she married the love of her life, John Larkin Porter, and they set up their home in Brattleboro, Vermont where together they raised their five children. Prior to moving to Concord, they lived in Winchester, NH in her much loved Forest Lake home, and later in West Chesterfield, NH.

In December of 1941 Helen enjoyed her first Christmas tree. John had wrapped the base of it with brown paper and it became their family diary. Each year before decorating the tree, John would write about the past year's events on that piece of brown wrapping paper. What started as "our first Christmas together" grew into a record of the Porter family history.

She also loved the Thanksgiving holiday, and when her children were small, she wrote them a special Thanksgiving song that her children and grandchildren still sing each Thanksgiving. She and John enjoyed 67 years of faithful marriage until he passed away on May 30, 2009.

Helen loved music and writing poetry. She was determined to learn how to play the piano, and at age 13 she taught herself to play by ear. She couldn't read a note, but oh how she could play those ivories! She and John often visited local nursing homes and Helen would entertain the residents by playing many wonderful old songs. Later, their eldest granddaughter, Mary Ellen Anderson, would often join them and she would sing and play her flute. If Helen knew the song or could hear it – she could play it. While at Pleasant View she spent many hours entertaining the other residents with her spontaneous piano concerts. Helen also loved politics – local and national – and she was quite comfortable putting forth her opinion and debating with anyone present. She did have her opinions! When the decision to close St. Michael's High School in Brattleboro was announced in 1968, she was an ardent supporter for keeping it open. It gave her pleasure to know that the high school finally did reopen, albeit many years later, and graduated it's first class this past spring – 51 years after its closing. Over the years she wrote many a letter to the Reformer's Letters to the Editors– not all about politics. Often she would just submit one of her lovely poems for the readers to enjoy.

Helen held many jobs including working as a cosmetologist at the former Rexall Drug Store in Brattleboro, and her favorite job – working as a laboratory secretary at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. In retirement she put her piano skills to use by playing in the lounge at the Putney Summit Restaurant – a "gig" she loved and talked about with great fondness. She also spent many hours baking for and supporting St. Michael's annual Christmas bazaars. She taught CCD religion classes for many years and also was reader of God's Word both at St. Michael's Church where she was a long time church member, and later at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Concord.

In addition to her husband, parents and siblings, Helen was predeceased on May 4, 1999 by her elder son, Dr. John "Jay" Porter of Woodstock, VT. She leaves four children, Diane Chattman (Bruce) of South Burlington, VT, Gladys O'Connor (Tom) of Lebanon, PA, Linda Wilber (Jeff) of Concord, NH Michael Porter (Melissa) of Greenfield, MA and her daughter-in law, Janice Porter of Woodstock, VT. She also leaves her grandchildren Jennifer Bradley, Jessica Porter, Greta Chattman, Mary Ellen Anderson, John Anderson, David Martel, Betsy Albers, Benjamin Wilber, Alex Porter and Blake Porter and great- grandchildren Alex, Ethan, Daniel and Laura Bradley, Amelia, Grant and Elizabeth Haas, Ethan and Logan Anderson and Erica and Brian Martel.

Funeral services for Helen will be held on Monday December 23, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of the WATERS FUNERAL HOME, 50 South Main St., Concord, NH with a visiting hour prior to the service at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. in the St. Michael's Cemetery in Brattleboro VT. The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Helen's name be made to St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.