Shrewsbury/Westborough – Our mother Helen G. (O’Donnell) Trank, 92, gave up her valiant life, surrounded by her loving family, Oct. 16, 2018 at the Shrewsbury Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, where she lived for many years.
Born in Worcester and raised in Shrewsbury, Helen was the daughter of Albert and Mary (Quinn) O’Donnell. Helen graduated from Shrewsbury High School, class of 1944, where she was voted an amazing number of “Senior Superlatives.” Among the many were Most Popular, Best Personality, Most Cheerful, Most Help to the Class, and Most Reliable! Additionally, Mom demonstrated her athletic prowess playing on the girls’ basketball team and field hockey team (elected captain).
Our Mom, although short in stature, was very large and strong in life. A force to be reckoned with! She raised five children on her own, which led to her re-entering the working world as a bookkeeper and obtaining a driver’s license which she never had. Our home was always a welcoming place to all of our cousins and friends. Mom was an active member of St. Luke’s Church and the Daughters of Isabella group. She loved playing her weekly card game of “Michigan Rummy” with her friends. Mom also loved music; she loved to sing and dance and was a very happy member of the Westborough Community Chorus for many years. Mom and her dear friends John and Joan and Teenie enjoyed much love, laughter, and mischief as they frequented all of the local watering holes in Westborough or just hanging out together in their Cedar Street homes. Great times and memories for all!
Our Mom is survived by four devoted children, Kathleen (Kathie) Arent, Eileen Voutas and her husband Rich, William (Billy) Trank and his wife Sharon, and Mary Grace Wood. Mom also leaves her brother, Albert B. O’Donnell and his wife Geraldine; her daughter-in-law, Anita Trank; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her parents, Mom was predeceased by her beloved son, Brian Trank; four brothers, John, Charles, Richard, and William O’Donnell; her two sisters, Mary Berthiaume-Hay and Claire Gardner; and her son-in-law Richard (Rick) Arent.
We are forever grateful to the staff at Shrewsbury Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for their loving care and support of Mom.
Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of Mom’s life Saturday, Nov. 10 with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, 640 Main St., Shrewsbury. Monsignor Michael Rose will officiate. Burial at St. John’s Cemetery in Worcester will be private.
The Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family with their celebration.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Brian B. Trank to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PANCAN), 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or www.pancan.org.
So, Mom, until we meet again: God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen!
