Helen S. Guare, long-time resident of Montpelier, died on Tuesday, January 11, 2011. Helen was born on November 8, 1922, in Wakefield, MA to Robert Schefisch and Rose Smith Schefisch. After graduating from Wakefield High School in 1940, she moved to Montpelier to attend the Heaton Hospital School of Nursing. After her graduation in 1944, she took a position as nurse with the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary. On December 1, 1945, she married J. Richard Guare at St. Joseph's Church in Wakefield, MA. They lived in Boston until the late 1940s, when they returned to Montpelier. They lived for many years at the Emmons family homestead on the corner of Main and Emmons Streets. She was an active member of St. Augustine's parish for many years, and devoted her life to raising five children. She also assisted her husband as a partner in the Guare & Sons Funeral Home. She enjoyed her many summers spent at the family's camp on Lake Groton, and in retirement years traveling internationally with her husband. In her final years, she enjoyed her comfortable life at Heaton Woods, and the care she received at Woodridge Nursing Home. She is survived by her five children; Philip A. Guare and his wife Susan, Thomas R. Guare and his wife Eleanor, Margaret M Bouffard and her husband James, John R. Guare and his wife Anne, and Paul S. Guare and his wife Lynn; by her grandchildren Tonya, Sarah, Anna, and Billy; by her step-grandchildren Bradley, Brett, Stephen and Shane; by four great grandchildren; by her sisters Ruth Carter and Ann Puleo; and by her sisters-in-law Georgianne Guare and Claire Guare. She is pre-deceased by her husband Richard (Dick); her sister Rita, and her brothers Paul and Robert. Calling hours will be Thursday, January 13, 6-8 pm at Guare & Sons Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will take place at St. Augustine's Church on Friday, January 14 at 11 am. Memorial contributions may be sent to Heaton Woods Activity Fund, 10 Heaton St., Montpelier, VT 05602; and also the Woodridge Nursing Home Activity Fund, PO Box 550, Barre, VT 05641. Those wishing to post online condolences may do so at www.guareandsons.com