Helene M. Lehtinen

Helene M. (Legere) Lehtinen, 82, of Ashburnham, died peacefully Wednesday, February 15, 2023, in her home surrounded by her family after a courageous hard-fought battle with cancer. She never once complained, only counted her many blessings.

Born in Acadieville, New Brunswick, Canada, on September 24, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Fidele J. and Louise M. (Babin) Legere. She graduated from Gardner High School with the Class of 1959. After high school, Helene was employed by AT&T for 10-years before she and her husband started their cherished family. 

Helene enjoyed being part of St. Denis Church, gathering with neighborhood friends, and was an active member of the Page Beach Neighborhood Association. Helene’s primary focus was her family, which she loved with all her heart. She and her husband enjoyed making many wonderful memories, gathering with their large extended family, and going to all events and activities that included their children and grandchildren. She was an extraordinary wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, and friend; truly loving and kind to all who knew her. She will be sadly missed along life’s way, lovingly remembered every day, no longer in our life to share but in our hearts; she’ll always be there. 

Helene is survived by her husband of 56-years, Bruce T. Lehtinen of Ashburnham; four daughters, Lisa M. Fitzgerald of Ashburnham, Linda L. Tominsky and her spouse Adam of Worcester, Louise M. Grimley and her spouse Sean of Westminster and Leanne J. Roy and her spouse Thomas of Ashburnham; her grandchildren, Cody Savoy and his spouse Brielle, Cam Savoy and his fiancé Yesenia, Delani Savoy, Mackenzi Soul and her spouse Urban, Riley, Austin, Tanner, and Brodie Grimley, Addison, Silas, and Landon Roy; step-grandchildren, Alexander Tominsky and his spouse Mallory, Callie, Dorothy, and Danielle Tominsky, and great-grandchildren, Mylah Savoy, Raiden Colburn, Kiera, and Maxwell Hutchings; a brother, Leo J. Legere and his wife Norma of Gardner; sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was predeceased by her brother, SP4 Emile J. Legere, who died while serving our country during the Vietnam War in 1967. 

A Celebration of Helene’s Life will be held Friday, February 24, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. in the Colonial Hotel, 625 Betty Spring Road, Gardner, MA.

Burial at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon, MA, will be private and held at the convenience of the family.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Massachusetts General Hospital, c/o Massachusetts General Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114, or on their website at (www.giving.massgeneral.org). Please reference in memory of Helene M. Lehtinen.