Helen F. Valja

Helen F. Valja, age 81, passed away peacefully in her Walpole, Massachusetts home on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 4, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Cornelius and Helen (Murphy) O'Connell. She spent her early years in Dorchester before her family settled in Quincy. Helen went on to graduate from Quincy High School with the Class of 1954 and quickly found work with the office of the Shipbuilders Union at the Quincy Shipyard.

Helen married her beloved husband, Aare Valja, on August 16, 1964. The young couple initially made their home together in Braintree, before settling in Walpole, Massachusetts in 1966, where Helen took on the role of a homemaker, raising and caring for her young family. As her three girls all joined the local Girl Scout Troop, Helen began volunteering her time to serve as a Scout Leader. Once her children were enrolled in school, Helen took a part time position with Blessed Sacrament Church, working as a preschool teacher, before taking a job with Walpole Pediatrics, serving as a receptionist for 20 years.

Helen loved helping others throughout her life, she could always be found lending a helping hand to anyone who needed it. She spent countless hours volunteering with the Girl Scouts at their Scout House in East Walpole, running the Bird Day Camp in the summer months. Her social calendar did not end with volunteer work, as Helen loved spending time with her close friends over an afternoon lunch.

While volunteering and helping others were both important, nothing was more important than Helen's own family. She loved traveling with her husband and was always there for her three girls. Helen was delighted at the birth of her grandchildren and loved the opportunity to take an active role in their care. As members of her extended family became ill, she welcomed them into her home, showing them the same love and care that she gave to her own family through the years.

Beloved wife of Aare Valja.
Loving mother of Jennifer M. Valja of Walpole, Wendi L. Berglund and her late husband, Scott, of Norton, and Amy E. LaPusata and her husband, David, of Billerica.
Cherished grandmother of Erik Berglund, Andrew Berglund, David LaPusata, and Sam LaPusata.
Sister of Rose Farrell of Braintree and Jean Liben of Hull.
Also survived by many cousins.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Helen's Life Celebration on Friday, June 22, 2018 from 4 to 8 PM and Saturday, June 23, 2018 from 9 to 9:30 AM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Blessed Sacrament Church, 10 Diamond Street, Walpole on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery in Walpole. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Walpole Center Board Inc., C/O Ann Ragosta, 38 Forsythia Drive, Walpole, MA 02081, for the Girl Scouts.