Helen Elizabeth Chapman

Helen was born November 30, 1920 in West Virginia, the daughter of the late William Arthur and Ann Susan Collis. She grew up in Berryville, VA and graduated from Berryville High School. After high school, Helen worked in Washington, D.C. where she met and later married Alfred P. Chapman on January 14, 1944. They ultimately made their home in Portland, ME where they lived happily until his death in 1998. Helen made a career as a hairdresser well into her eighties; she was an avid reader and enjoyed sewing and tea parties with her great-granddaughters. Helen was an active member of First Baptist Church in Portland for more than sixty years; there she made lifelong friends who brought her great comfort and much joy. She spent the last five years living with her daughter and enjoying the company of her grand-dogs, Ella and Simon.

She is survived by her daughter, Merle Ann Chapman of Gorham, Maine; Four grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren: Christopher Bellmare and wife, Christa, and children Prudence and Flannery; Darcy Jordan and fiancé, Glen Spaulding, and children Valencia and Aliza; Shari Estes and husband, Robert, and children Nicholas, Joel, Kenan, Linnea, Catherine, Diana, and Martin; and James Preston and daughter Stacey; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

One sister and seven brothers predeceased her.

A period of visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM on Monday, December 15 at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. in Portland.

A funeral service for Helen will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 16 at First Baptist Church, 360 Canco Rd. in Portland; Dr. Keith Moore, Senior Pastor, officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church at 360 Canco Road, Portland, ME or to the American Cancer Society.