Helaine J. Cotton

Born in Boston on May 20, 1933, to the late William and Edna Bornstein, Helaine was married to the love of her life, Harvey Cotton, for 68 years until his passing in November 2021. She was the devoted mother of Elyse and Matthew Caruso of Salem, MA, and Andrew and Randy Cotton Lane of Saugerties, NY. Helaine was a proud Grammie to Heather and Ian Jeffries of Stratford-upon-Avon, UK, and Julia Caruso and Andrew Fund of Long Island, NY. She leaves behind her beloved great-granddaughters, Emilia and Josephine Jeffries, and her baby great-grandson, Hayden Caruso-Fund. Helaine was the dear “best sister” to Beverly Shiffman of Chestnut Hill and the late Stanley Shiffman, and a loving aunt to their family. She was also a devoted sister to her late brother, Harlan Bornstein, sister-in-law to Bernice Bornstein, and “Auntie” to their children.

After meeting Harvey as teenagers, Helaine graduated from Roxbury Memorial High School and Fisher Junior College, married in 1953, and worked until they began their family. As a longtime member of Temple Israel in Swampscott, Helaine was active in Sisterhood, ORT, and Hadassah. She played tennis for many years and delighted in her excursions into Boston—attending the Symphony and the Huntington Theatre, or shopping at Bonwit’s and Saks. In later years, leading up to well-earned retirement, Helaine worked alongside Harvey at the family business, Stearns Hardware in Revere. She cherished summer weeks in the Berkshires with Harvey or Beverly and her cousin Eileen. She also loved dining out and never turned down anything chocolate, especially with a cup of tea.

Helaine and Harvey lived in Marblehead for sixty years before moving to The Residence at Vinnin Square in Swampscott, where they enjoyed five more years together. Shortly after Harvey’s passing, Helaine lost her eyesight, yet with encouragement from new friends and the caring staff at CareOne, she remained as social and independent as possible. She treasured staying in touch with friends and family and was particularly appreciative of her dear friend, Lois’s, frequent calls and visits. Hearing the voices of her granddaughters and great-granddaughters filled her heart.

Helaine will be remembered by so many for her warmth, loyal friendships, devotion to family, and meticulous appearance. In place of flowers, donations in Helaine’s memory may be made to your local food pantry, to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), 309 Waverley Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02452, or to a charity of your choice.

A funeral service for Helaine will be held on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel, 10 Vinnin Street, Salem, MA 01970 with interment at Dorchester Hebrew Helping Hand Cemetery, 232 Fuller Street Everett, MA 02149. Memorial Observance following the interment at the Village at Vinnin Square Clubhouse, Salem on Sunday from 12:30 p.m. -6:30 p.m.