Helen L. Duarte died in her home at Havenside on September 14, 2015 at the age of 96. She was attended at her bedside by her granddaughter Nancy Fauteux, who cared for her during the last year of her illness.
Helen loved her family and was a friend to many. She loved to bake for her friends. Prior to her illness she attended all the church suppers and could be seen entering the rear door of the church offering her baked goods to the kitchen help.
Helen was adopted at age 18. She had two biological brother’s that she had never met. At age 16 she discovered her only biological sister attended the same school as she did.
Helen and her husband Maynard, worked for Charles Lindbergh, who resided at Seven Gates Farm from 1940-1942. Helen was the cook and her husband was the chauffeur and gardener.
Helen cared for the many Island elderly as their caregiver and cook. She retired at age 82.
She was predeceased by her husband Maynard S Duarte in 1963. She leaves her children Carol Cabral and her husband Alfred of Claremont New Hampshire; Kenneth Duarte and his wife Rita of Sarasota Florida; and Shirley Fauteux of Falmouth; five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held outdoors on September 25 at 11 am at the Faith M.V. Chapel on County Road, Oak Bluffs (next to Mahoney’s). Rain location will be at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs then at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven. A celebration of Helen’s life will be at the Portuguese American Club in Oak Bluffs immediately following the service, please bring a dish to share. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her name to Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard, PO Box 1829, Edgartown, MA 02539.