Her parents, Raymond C. and Helen (Egan) Zimmer welcomed their daughter into the world on December 5, 1954 in Holyoke, MA. She grew up in Mansfield Depot, CT, and was a 1972 graduate of E.O. Smith High School.
As a young girl, Helen was active in 4-H, having a special place in her heart for horses.
Helen attended Manchester Community College and later, was a graduate of the Univ. of Connecticut, receiving a Bachelor Degree in Science. It was while attending UCONN that Helen met her future husband, Gerald D. "Jerry" Babonis. They were married on June 18, 1977.
Helen worked as a textbook manager at the Keene State College Bookstore for many years. She also enjoyed working with the students at the Monadnock Regional School District in Swanzey, as a paraprofessional.
She loved cooking, baking and gardening. She found great solace in hiking and camping. Helen’s favorite pastime was the many wonderful memories created with her family especially her grandchildren.
She will be greatly missed by many in the community, especially her husband of 44 years, Gerald D. "Jerry" Babonis of North Swanzey; her children, Corianne LaBounty and her husband, Derek, of Maynard, MA; Emily B. Evans and her husband, Bennett, of Holderness, NH, Peter G. Babonis and his wife, Marissa, of Londonderry, NH, Joseph S. Babonis, of Keene, NH; six grandchildren, Sophia LaBounty, Zane LaBounty, Lola LaBounty, Veera Evans, Ruby Evans, June Evans; two brothers, William Zimmer of Storrs, CT, Christopher Zimmer of Freeport, FL; two sisters, Diane McKain of Northfield, VT, Gail Rusiecki of Santa Rosa Beach, FL; and several nieces, nephews and extended family members. Helen was predeceased by a brother, Raymond Zimmer, and her sisters, Arlene Zimmer, Joanne Zimmer, and Janice Rushton.
Family and friends are invited to call on Thursday evening, September 2, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00pm in the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene. All those in attendance are required to wear facemasks as the physical distancing protocols cannot be followed inside of the building. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 3, 2021 at 1:00pm in St. Bernard Church, 185 Main Street, Keene. Burial in the Mt. Caesar Cemetery, Swanzey, will be held privately by the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mrs. Babonis’ memory to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 ; or to the Monadnock Conservancy, PO Box 337, Keene, NH 03431-0337 (https://www.monadnockconservancy.org).
