Helen Marie Biglin, 79, of Chicopee, passed away peacefully at her home on May 2, 2026 surrounded by her loving children following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Born and raised in Holyoke, Helen Marie was the daughter of Mary T. (Lunney) and John J. Biglin. She was educated at local catholic schools including Blessed Sacrament and graduated in the first class of the combined Holyoke Catholic High School in 1964. Family was central to her upbringing with a love of Irish dancing, track, cheerleading and fun times spent with cousins growing up on Gates, Carlton and Hitchcock Streets. 

Helen Marie earned her Associates degree in Nursing from Holyoke Community College in 1974. While she also worked during the 80s and 90s at the Bulk Mail Center in Springfield, she returned to her passion of nursing until her retirement in the spring of 2025. Helen Marie's greatest joy professionally was serving as team supervisor for the American Red Cross, overseeing mobile blood drives throughout central and western Massachusetts. She made lifelong friendships with colleagues and thrived on meeting volunteers and blood donors. Most recently, Helen Marie worked part time as the Wellness Nurse for the River Mills Senior Center in Chicopee where she enjoyed her day to day interactions with wonderful senior citizens. 

Helen Marie enjoyed family gatherings, trips to the southern coast of Maine, gardening, quilting, and hanging out with her cherished dog Finn. A lover of car rides, she had a knack for finding the most scenic alternate driving routes. She was an avid New England sports fan and enjoyed watching the Red Sox and Patriots. As a season ticket holder for UMass basketball, Helen shared many good memories with her friends. She relished lazy Sunday afternoons following the PGA tournaments.

 One of her most cherished accomplishments was lovingly raising her four children. Besides her parents, Helen Marie was predeceased by her beloved son Brian Smith and brother John Biglin. She is survived by her children Maura (Smith) Goulart and husband Bob, Jennifer (Smith) Corridan and husband Bob, and her son Matthew Godin and his wife Bonnie McLaren. She leaves her sisters Kathleen Viamari and husband George, Ann ("Nancy") Biglin and sister-in-law Helen (Greaney) Biglin. Her legacy includes seven grandchildren - Kyle, Rachel, Jillian, Ben, Isabelle, Lily and Georgiana - and two great-grandchilden, nieces and nephews, and an extended family of dear cousins. She will be sorely missed by her beloved furry companion Finn.

 Family and friends are asked to gather for Helen's Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday May 9 at 10:00am in St. Patrick's Chapel of Saint Jerome Church, 169 Hampden Street, Holyoke. Burial will be held in Saint Jerome Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday May 8 from 4:00 to 6:00pm. 

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Helen Marie's memory to either the Ron Foley Foundation (Ron's Rescue Fund) at www.ronfoleyfoundation.org or the Mutt Rescue of Massachusetts at muttrescueofmassachusetts.org.