Aud Karin Helgeland

Aud Karin ‘Kina’ Helgeland, a long-time resident of New Bedford, died Saturday the 27th of January at St. Luke’s Hospital. Born Aud Karin Ulland on August 2nd, 1934 in Bergen, Norway, Kina studied nursing in Norway before emigrating to the United States. She was married to lifelong New Bedford resident Thomas Helgeland in 1958 and they raised their family on Coggeshall Street not far from the Kristen Beth Nursing Home where Kina was employed for many years.

As a child, Kina lived through the Nazi occupation of Norway which ended just before her 11th birthday and she would often relate poignant stories from that time. She was also keen to pass on many Norwegian traditions to her family which included the pleasure of several food recipes and Christmas traditions. She was a very hard worker and applied a dedication and diligence to everything she put her mind to. She passed this quality on to her children. Also an accomplished knitter, dozens of local residents have worn her handmade Norwegian sweaters over the years. At one time they were for sale as far away as Nantucket.

Kina suffered from a lengthy illness and it is a relief for her to be finally free of that burden. She was loved and is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years Thomas, by her children Katherine Vezina and her husband George, Brian Helgeland and his wife Nancy, and Karen Davis and her husband Paul; also by her grandchildren Ian and Martin Helgeland, Spencer and Emma Vezina, and Sean and Erik Davis all of whom brought her great pride and joy. She also is survived by her siblings including Oivind Ulland of Fairhaven and Andrea, Solmoy, Reidun and Arvid all of Norway.

Her Memorial Service will be held on Friday, February 2, 2018 at 10AM in Trinity Lutheran Church, 16 Temple Pl., Fairhaven. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Trinity Lutheran Church, 16 Temple Pl., Fairhaven, MA 02719. For online tributes please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com.