Helen Carlin

Helen Marie Davis Carlin, loving wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother left her earthly home on February 4, 2014, and was welcomed into the arms of her Heavenly Father. She was surrounded by her devoted family and husband of 63 years, Wilfred R. Carlin. Mom was a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, and a graduate of Istrouma Senior High School and Our Lady of the Lake School of Nursing. Following her tenure at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, she served as a school Nurse for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, during which she held the position of School Nurse Coordinator within the Department of Education for the State of Louisiana for three years. Her later years were spent in support of the family business, Carlin's Grocery and Market, a North Baton Rouge mainstay for 65 years. Her devotion to family was immeasurable; her delight was her five Great Grandchildren, ten Grandchildren, and four children: Patti Durham and husband Kirby, Dr. Brad Carlin and wife Debbie, Peggi Mueller and husband Harvey, and Polli Lancaster and husband Paul. Mom's greeting in conversations with her Grandchildren always began with "Hello, My Angel!", in her unique southern drawl. Now cherishing those tender words are Brandy Kelley and husband Mike, Brannan Durham, Jonathan and Daniel Carlin and wife Cate, Dustin, Dylan and Trentan Lancaster, and Bryce, Bryn, and LeRae Mueller. Great Grandchildren include Shelby Vick, Maddie and Michael Kelley, and Ford and Lucy Cole Carlin. Also cherishing lifelong memories of Maw Maw are Nalton and Cindi Thompson, son Adam Thompson and wife Carla, daughter Heather Schram and husband Callen, and great grandbabies Lucas, Hayes, and Juliette, Schram, and Reese Thompson. Survivors include Sister Marion Davis DeBenedetto, Sisters-in-Law Audrey Carlin Guidry and Annie Carlin Chambers and husband Bob, and Lee Davis; and brother in law, Boyd Eisworth. Our images of Mom always include her sitting on the riverbank, cane pole in hand, patiently waiting for that "big one" to come along. While Paw Paw introduced all grandkids to the art of rowing a pirogue, it was Maw Maw's vigilant oversight, monitoring all activity from her perch above on her fishing stool, that stands forefront in our memories. Appreciating the simple joy of a quiet evening on the water at sundown, soaking in the surrounding sights, sounds, and smells as a riverboat tugged along nearby, was a major lesson taught to us all. Just as her mother before her, Mom could sit on that bank for hours. Her patience was never-ending as she waited for that barely perceptible tug of the fishing line. When success finally came, her excitement was contagious to all. The bayou was her sanctuary. She was preceded in death by her parents, John W. and Effie Davis, In-Laws Clarence and Effie Carlin, siblings Emma Eisworth and John W. Davis Junior, and Brothers-In-Law Rocco DeBenedetto, Roland Guidry, and Kenwood Carlin. Visitation will be held at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 5, 2014, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The Rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will resume on Thursday, February 6, 2014, from 8 a.m. until the funeral services at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Helen's eight grandchildren. In honor of Mom's deep love of all her Grandbabies, and in lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial remembrances be made to St Jude Children's Hospital. Mom's adopted family at Williamsburg Senior Living Community provided truly special moments of happiness during the last months of her life. Our family will be forever grateful for the compassion shown by such amazing caregivers; these individuals, along with Hospice of Baton Rouge personnel at the Butterfly Wing in the Baton Rouge General, were a blessing for us all during this difficult time. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7.