Obituary of Helen A. (Zaksheski) Wilson

WILSON- HELEN A. (Zaksheski) PEABODY -- At 95 years of age, Helen passed away early Saturday morning, March 10th in the peaceful surroundings of the Peabody home she resided in for over 65 years. Born and raised in Chelsea, she was a daughter of the late Anthony and Josephine (Trocki) Zaksheski. Helen first attended St. Stanislaus Parochial School and was graduated from Chelsea High School class of 1940. She began work when she was hired as the first lady bank teller with the Chelsea-County Savings Bank. She later worked as a secretary for a local Chelsea attorney who suspended his practice to enlist in the army during WWII. Thereafter she worked as a secretary in the offices of Atwood McManus Box Mfg. in Chelsea. In April of 1945, she married her high school sweetheart and Navy-airman, William J. Wilson. They remained in Chelsea raising the first of three sons before purchasing their dream home in the early 1950’s. A devoted housewife and mother, she also worked outside of her home as an office manager for Boston Machinery, Inc. in Peabody. She retired in the mid 1980’s. A woman of deep faith, she was a longtime active parishioner and early supporter of St. Ann’s Church in Peabody and she was a distinguished “Legion of Honor Member” of the Polish Falcons, Nest 485 Chelsea. Helen was preceded in death by her husband Bill, Sr. in 1992, after sharing what she would describe as a storybook romance of 55 years, beginning with two teenagers from Chelsea high school. In her lifetime Helen enjoyed traveling with her husband, reading and many activities centered around her home; writing and corresponding with friends and family, gardening, sewing, baking and cooking were just a few of the things she liked to do. She was the beloved wife of 47 years to the late William J. Wilson, Sr. Loving mother of Thomas S. Wilson and his wife Eileen of Topsfield, Stephen K. Wilson and his wife Kathy and William J. Wilson, Jr. and his wife Deborah, all of Peabody. Cherished grandmother “Babci” of Andrea Margareci and her husband Michael of Burlington, Christopher Wilson of Peabody, Shannon Wilson and her companion Christopher Cutone of Danvers and Matthew Halliday of Brooklyn NY. Dear sister of the late Irene J. Schultz and Chester V. Zaksheski. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and extended family members. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather on Friday March 16, 2018 at 9 A.M. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., PEABODY, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 A.M. in St. Ann’s Church, 140 Lynn St., Peabody. A visitation will be held on Thursday from 4 to 8 P.M. in the funeral home. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Memorial donations may be made to Haven from Hunger, 71 Wallis St., Peabody, MA 01963 or VNA Care, 199 Rosewood Dr., Ste. 180, Danvers, MA 01923, www.VNACare.org.