Helen Ann Mikas

Helen Ann Mikas, a devoted wife, mother, friend, aunt and grammy/mammy, passed away peacefully at her daughter’s family home Monday morning, March 13, 2023.

She was born in Fitchburg on April 10, 1944, daughter of the late George and Lillian (Kangas) Augustino but lived in Gardner for the majority of her 78 years. 

Helen loved dancing from a young age and that passion never ended, it just slowed down. She loved swimming in her pool, helping her husband in the garden, fishing with him, especially when they had their boat, playing bingo, scat and yahtzee, walking her dog Lila, and doting on her children then her grandchildren. Her choice of music was Pandora Classic Country and religious hymns. Her favorite place to be was church and her favorite thing to do was spending time eating and talking with her family and friends and sitting with her furry baby Lila. 

Helen worked at Simplex Time Recording and continued on to TYCO as an assembler for 30 years until her retirement. She was a 1962 graduate of Gardner High School. She was a member of Mission of Grace Church, formerly Mission Street Congregational Church and was a member of their ladies aid society. In 1975 she began attending Mission Street Church faithfully with Nancy Rolf, her best friend since they were teenagers. Several years later Helen became a deaconess who enjoyed visiting parishioners who were ill or unable to attend at their homes, hospitals, and nursing homes, and would witness to other people while there. For a while she went knocking door to door trying to get people to know about Jesus and would welcome them to church. Helen continued to do visitations and remained the ladies aid society treasurer for many, many years until she was no longer able. 

Helen is survived by many friends and family including a daughter, Mary Burpee and her husband Brian of Gardner; a sister Eleanor and Claude Bourgeois, a sister-in-law and brother-in-law Patricia and Charles Woodward of Hubbardston; and two grandchildren, Bailey and Brady Burpee along with many nephews and nieces, including Suzanne Saari, who became an affectionate personal care attendant, only and just for her auntie, and her furry daughter Lila. She was preceded in death by her son, John Mikas, her husband of 56 years at his passing in 2020, Walter J. Mikas Jr., and her brother George Augustino, Jr. 

The family would like to express their warmest thanks to her truly devoted sister and brother-in-law Eleanor and Claude Bourgeois for their never ending love and support to her and her family, and to Mission of Grace Church for their many, many prayers. We are also so appreciative to the ladies who loved and took excellent care of her and helped us too, Suzie Saari, Marie Lackey, Nancy Daigle, and Diane Wayman. 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 11 A.M. in Mission of Grace Church, 358 Pleasant Street, Gardner.

Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery at a later date.

Calling hours will be held Friday, April 14, 2023 from 5 to 7 P.M. in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon.

Memorial donations may be made to Mission of Grace Church.

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.stone-ladeau.com