Helen B. Nyman

Helen B. (Kangas) Nyman, 94, of Gardner, died peacefully Saturday, February 5, 2025, in Wachusett Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Gardner, after a period of declining health. Born July 28, 1930, daughter of Matti and Atofina (Bergestead) Kangas in New Ipswich, NH. 

Raised on a small dairy farm and the youngest of four brothers and five sisters, Helen developed an appreciation for "doing her own thing". 

Helen was both athletic (pitching hay bales) and artistic. She played high school basketball along with her sister Sylvia when women's basketball had nowhere near the popularity of today's game. Helen was both entrepreneurial and artistic. Her older sister Miriam had a beauty salon, and Helen would help out whenever possible and eventually led to her training as a cosmetologist. As her children got older and she now had the opportunity to pursue her own thing she, with the support of her husband, the late Duane A. Nyman, opened a beauty shop out of her home in Gardner. Helen was known by her clients as a perfectionist when it came to their appearance. If you were a friend of one of her sons and walked through the door of her shop with long hair you could not leave without having a session in "the chair". The same was true for friends of her daughter, especially when it was time for the high school plays.

She used her artistic and entrepreneurial talents to help her husband Duane in "assisting" with the many promotions at the Orange Savings Bank. One of the more memorable promotions she instigated was live tiger cubs promoting the bank’s services. She and Duane traveled extensively and participated in many banking seminars. Helen and Duane were active participants in many vintage and antique car club activities. One of their more notable Car Club of New England friendships was with Prestly Blake founder of the Friendly's ice cream chain. They were invited to review his Rolls-Royce collection of antique automobiles.

After she retired from her beauty salon, she still wanted to keep busy. Growing up during the depression years Helen developed a great appreciation for organizations that helped people in need particularly the Salvation Army. Using her business and entrepreneurial skills, which at times may have been at odds with the more traditional Salvation Army way of running a store, she helped organize and develop the Gardner Salvation Army Thrift Store.

In her later years she spent much of her time visiting with her surviving sisters and renewing old and creating new memories.

Helen is survived by two sons, Paul E. Nyman and wife Mary Nyman of Westbrook, CT, Kenneth J. Nyman, Dubai, UAE and daughter, Helayne E. Nyman of Gardner. Her five grandchildren, Meredith Nyman, Matthew Nyman and wife Tanya Nyman, Kaara McHugh and husband Ben Olejniczak, Patrick McHugh, Timothy McHugh; as well as three great grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her loving husband, Duane A. Nyman and her grandson Andrew Paul Nyman and sisters Ester, Martha, Miriam, Arlene, and Sylvia. And brothers Pete, John, Alfred and Walter.

Calling Hours will be held Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA. Funeral Services will follow at 12:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be held at Wildwood Cemetery, West Street, Gardner, MA.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601, or on their website at (www.alz.org). Please reference in memory of Helen B. Nyman