Obituary of Lorraine E. Helms

Lorraine E. Helms, age 76, of St. Paul, MN, formerly of Hull, MA, passed away on July 23, 2023, surrounded by her family. She was born on July 13, 1947, in Torrington, CT, and was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Vivian (Smith) Helms. Lorraine is survived by her husband, Joseph F. Miller of St. Paul, MN, formerly of Arlington and Hull, MA; her daughter and daughter-in-law, Claire H. Avitabile and Blythe M. Davis of Minneapolis, MN; and her sister and brother-in-law, Barbara J. Helms and Ben Stuit of Storrs, CT. 

Lorraine grew up in Coventry, CT, and attended Hartford Hospital School of Nursing, followed by Central Connecticut State University where she received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology, and then the University of California at Berkeley where she received her master's degree in Demography.

Lorraine worked as a registered nurse for nearly 50 years, focusing primarily in the area of adolescent mental health, but also dabbled in other areas of nursing, working as a case manager for the State of Massachusetts and at both dialysis and blood donor centers. It was while working for the American Red Cross in 2002 that she met the love of her life. Joe and Lorraine married on August 16, 2003, on the beach in Hull, MA, and would have celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary this year. 

In 2018, Lorraine and Joe moved from Massachusetts to Minnesota to be closer to her only daughter, Claire, and Claire’s partner Blythe. The group of four loved to make each other laugh, go out to dinner, see new movies, go swimming, grill and relax in the backyard, and listen and sing along to classic rock, especially The Grateful Dead. The family took their first ever vacation as a group earlier this year to Jamaica, where Lorraine and Joe used to love to visit earlier in their marriage, and incredible memories were made that will never be forgotten. 

Lorraine’s warm and welcoming spirit made her a delight to those who had the pleasure to know her. She was smart, sassy, silly, and sweet (and had quite a sweet tooth!). She got caught in the mud and rain at Woodstock, marched on Washington, and was an advocate for so many. She was an incredible mom, a loving wife, a wonderful sister, and a beloved friend. Though saddened by her loss, her family is grateful for and will always cherish the memories of our time together with her. 

There will be no formal service per Lorraine’s wishes; the family will be celebrating her life privately. In lieu of any flowers, please consider listening to The Grateful Dead’s “Brokedown Palace” in Lorraine’s memory. Donations can also be made to Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, or an Indigenous-focused organization in your area.