Helen Poland Jarrett

Helen Poland (Easdon) Jarrett, 78, died suddenly on Sunday, January 27, 2013. She was born in Paisley, Scotland on August 8, 1934, the daughter of the late Henry B. Easdon and Helen (Poland) Easdon. Helen is survived by her beloved husband of 56 years, Arthur Derek Jarrett, and her loving and devoted children: Anne Richardson and her husband Bill of Metairie, LA; Fiona Roman and her husband David of Dover, MA and Ian Jarrett and his wife Sally of Weston, MA. Sister of John Easdon of Melbourne, Australia. Grandmother of 7 grandchildren. Helen was a resident of Weston for 48 years. She grew up in Scotland during WWII surviving numerous air raids and many other hardships. At the Camphill School, Helen was a champion sprinter and hurdler and active in theatre. She met her future husband, Derek, in 1948, when they were both in the cast of a school play entitled "Moo." After marrying in December 1956, Helen and Derek moved to Houston TX where Derek completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Rice University and Helen worked for Shell Oil as the personal assistant to the Director of Research. They moved to Watertown, MA in 1958 when Derek embarked on a 29 year career at Polaroid Corp. Along with her husband, Helen became an citizen of the United States in 1964 and was proud to be an American. Yet, they also remained citizens of the world, traveling frequently together.

As a Weston resident, Helen touched the lives of countless people. She was an active volunteer at her children's schools, a girl scout leader and taught Sunday School first at The Congregational Church of Weston and later at the First Parish Church in Weston. She began teaching sunday school at age 16 in Scotland and continued until 2003. Later she acted as a mentor in the First Parish eighth grade covenanting year program, a role she continued until she died. Helen worked for many years with Neva Baine at The Chestnut Shop and, when her daughters bought the shop in 1990, she became the backbone of the store as the manager. Helen's smile, good humor, compassion and friendliness brightened the day for anyone who walked into The Chestnut Shop. Some of Helen's happiest times were spent on the tennis and paddle tennis courts and she greatly enjoyed the camaraderie of the friends she played with over the years. With a husband who loved gardening, Helen became an expert in processing his abundant harvests into jams, jellies soups and baked goods, and she prepared food every month for the Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen in Waltham. Above all, Helen's favorite role was that of Grandma. She was very involved with raising every one of her seven grandchildren, tried to attend as many games, concerts and plays as she could and was always ready to listen. She learned to text message when the older grandchildren left for college so she could maintain the individual relationships she had established with each of them. A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be held at the First Parish Church in Weston, 349 Boston Post Road, Weston, MA on March 4, 2013 at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, her family suggests donations in her memory be sent to the Bristol Lodge, c/o Middlesex Human Service, 50 Prospect Street, Waltham, MA 02453. Arrangements entrusted to the care of the Duckett Funeral Home, J.S. Waterman & Sons, 656 Boston Post Road, Sudbury, MA 01776. For on-line condolences please visit www.duckett-waterman.com.