Helen A (Crean) Rainville

Helen Anna (Crean) Rainville, 98, passed away on August 31, 2015 at the Vibra Hospital in Springfield, MA. She was born on September 30, 1916, the 11th of 18 children born to James J. and Hanora A. (Carney) Crean. Helen was a lifelong resident of West Springfield, graduating from West Springfield High School in 1934. Following the early deaths of her parents, Helen ran the household for her sister and several of her brothers for many years, even after she married and had children. During World War II, she worked at F. W. Sickles in Chicopee as a tester of critical components used in the radios of Sherman Tanks. After her children were grown, she returned to work as a transcriber of medical records at the Mercy Hospital and at the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. She retired in 1982. Her husband, Robert F. Rainville, Sr. owned Rainville�s Dairy, which serviced customers throughout the Springfield area. He died in 1989. She is survived by two children; Robert F. Rainville, Jr. and his wife Nancy of North Andover, MA, and Janet E. Taudel and her husband Adolph, of West Springfield, with whom she lived. She is also survived by two grandchildren: Allison M. Rainville of Lunenburg, MA, and Robert J. Rainville and his wife Sinead M. of Sturbridge, MA, along with two great-grandsons; Liam R. and Quinn S. Rainville also of Sturbridge. Helen was predeceased by her 17 siblings;Mary Frances, James, Francis, Daniel, Timothy, Cornelius, John, Thomas, Hanora (Nina) Dupuis, Lillian Perigord, Jeremiah, Mary Frances (2), Agnes, William, Anna, May, and Jermiah (Gerald). She leaves several nieces and nephews, and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. Helen was a religious person and a lifelong communicant of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Springfield, where she was married on October 11, 1944. In her later years she enjoyed weekly gatherings with her clubs and card playing friends, reading, and watching Fox News. She was very interested in local and national news, and she could converse with most anyone on many subjects. She was devoted to her family, and loved the many family gatherings she attended. She also possessed a quick and sharp wit. She was a great Red Sox fan and was frequently seen wearing her pink Red Sox cap. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be Thursday, 11AM at St. Thomas Church, 47 Pine St., followed by burial in St. Thomas Cemetery. Calling hours will precede the Mass at the TOOMEY-O�BRIEN Funeral Home, 1043 Westfield St., W. Spfld. from 9:00-10:30AM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Thomas Church, 47 Pine St., W. Spfld., MA 01089 or the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.