Helen Holmes Racine

HOLMES RACINE, Helen – age 91 of Grand Blanc, Michigan, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2016. Born in Roslyn Heights, NY to immigrants Carman and Angelina Galante Nigro, Helen was forever proud of her Italian heritage and Long Island upbringing. Following her high school graduation, she worked for the New York Telephone Company and in 1948 married Walter W. Holmes, with whom she celebrated forty-seven wonderful years before his untimely death in 1995. After spending the first fourteen years of their marriage on Long Island, NY, Helen and Walt moved to Flint, MI with their four young children and quickly acclimated themselves to life in the Midwest. As a stay-at-home mother and homemaker, Helen found joy in raising her children in the Catholic faith. Following a family move to Grand Blanc in 1972, Helen owned and operated the Golden Dolphin Bath Shop for eight years and then worked at Children’s Garden in the Perry Center where she was loved by her pre-schoolers and co-workers. Helen married widower Lloyd Racine in 2002 and they enjoyed much laughter and companionship while making memories with their large blended family. Widowed for the second time in 2009, Helen spent her remaining years loving life, her family, and her Catholic faith. Her weekly routine of Saturday evening mass followed by dinner out with family and friends, swimming and exercising, driving to the beauty parlor, and reading the latest bestsellers kept her happy and sharper than most Nonagenarians. She loved to play euchre anytime and anywhere and was willing to share her thoughts on the latest political news when asked. Helen is survived by her older sister, 93 year-old Mildred Petersen, her four children: Janet (Tom) King, Cecily Moore, Ron (Kay) Holmes, and Betsy (Brian) Parr, eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, and the many members of the Racine family who welcomed her as one of their own. Visitation will take place Friday, May 20th at Hill Funeral Home - 11723 S. Saginaw Street, Grand Blanc, MI 48439, from 1:00-7:00 p.m. followed by a Rosary service. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, May 21st at 10:00 a.m. with visitation at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church - 11804 S. Saginaw Street in Grand Blanc. Those desiring may make a contribution in Helen’s memory to the American Heart Association or Reverence Hospice. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.hillfh.com.