Helen (Costa) Rodrigues

Helen (Costa) Rodrigues, 91, of Ludlow, passed away on Monday, October 8, 2018 after a long, difficult struggle with Lewy body dementia. Born Helen Costa on April 7, 1927 to Jose and Luisa (Almeida) Costa, she was predeceased by her husband Jesse Rodrigues. She was also predeceased by her sisters Palmira Costa and Alice Dias and by her brothers Carmindo and Joaqiun Costa.

Helen was a talented seamstress and quilter, having made several personalized quilts for all her grandchildren and for several of her great-grandchildren. She was a self-taught accordion and guitar player. After raising her six children, she worked at the former Book Press in Ludlow and later at the USPS Bulk Mail Center. She very much enjoyed bingo and trips to Foxwoods.

Helen leaves her children Joseph and Manuel Rodrigues, Thomas Rodrigues and wife Cynthia, Robert Rodrigues and partner Paula Killough, Sandra Venne and husband Donald, Joan Labier and husband Ronald. She also leaves ten grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Father Jimmy for the rosaries she took with her and to the staff at Willimansett Center East for the care she received over the past three and a half years.