Helen Patricia Shapazian

Helen Patricia Shapazian was born on Oct. 6, 1922, to Herbert and Virginia Whitehead in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She graduated from John Carroll High School in Oklahoma City in 1940 and was a member of the Honor Society all four years.

She was a professional dancer and taught ballroom dancing, and also worked on Wall Street. She met and married Abraham “Pasha” Shapazian in 1964. She relocated to Portland, Maine to work alongside him at the State Paper Company until their retirement. She enjoyed dancing, classical music, bridge, and reading. She was a member of the Women’s Fellowship and the Literary Guild. She volunteered at St. Patrick’s School and taught children reading and dance. Pat was loving, kind, and very patient with her sisters, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Virginia and Herbert Whitehead, her husband Pasha Shapazian, and her sisters Mildred Armitage and Virginia Francis, and her first husband Ara Maddox.

She is survived on Pasha’s side by Jerry and Audrey Gostanian, Paula and June Shapazian, and on her side by Michael and Louise Francis, Vicky (Don) Tuite, Virginia (Matthew) Lambert, Pat (Alan) Francis-Lyon, Raymond Francis, Matthew Armitage and John (Irene) Francis, her step daughter Valerie Wasler along with many cousins, great nieces and great nephews and great, great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her many family friends, bridge, concert and church friends.

The family would like to thank all the staff, friends, and residents at Maine Medical and Richards R3 Wing, InterMed, St. Joseph’s Rehab and Residence, New England Rehab, Home Instead, and Kindred at Home.

Friends and family are invited to attend a time of visitation on Thursday September 7, 2017 from 4:00PM-7:00PM in the Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland, Maine. Prayers will be held Friday September 8, 2017 at 9:15AM in the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00AM in the St. Joseph Catholic Church, 673 Stevens Avenue, Portland, Maine. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery (New Section) in South Portland, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

On-line condolences can be given to the family at www.jonesrichandbarnes.com.