Helen (Marsella) Garrow

Helen (Marsella) Garrow, 93, of Ludlow passed away peacefully on Monday, May 13, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Daughter of the late John and Ada (Diotalevi) Marsella, she was born in Irvington, NY and was a high honors graduate of Commerce High School.

A pioneer of her time, Helen built a career of public service in positions previously dominated my men while raising a family. She served as the Treasurer for the Town of Ludlow for 12 years, retiring in 2000. Prior to this, she served as Executive Director of the Ludlow Housing Authority; Secretary of the Safety and Finance Committees; Two terms on the Board of Selectmen, one year as Chairperson; Ludlow Democratic Town Committee and Precinct member; Board Member and President of Western Mass Elder Care for nearly 20 years; and gave her time and energy in several different capacities on non-profit boards and committees during her civically meaningful lifetime in Ludlow.

She was a devout and active communicant of the former St. Mary of the Assumption and later St. Elizabeth’s Parishes, where she led the finance committee and was an active member of the choir. Helen was one of the original members of the Ludlow Mother’s Club and founding member of the Ludlow Red Hat Society. She was famous for hosting the Amherst College Men’s Hockey team at her home with pounds of ziti and meatballs, massive salads, and a convivial environment each year, and her door was always open for families in need, comfort-seeking animals, and friends looking for a shoulder. Her garden bloomed with color and love.

Helen loved being surrounded by family if they agreed to play board games loudly; enjoyed cheering on her kids’ losing sports teams and cringe-worthy concerts; burying her toes in the warm sand of Cape Cod beaches; trips to Europe with her daughter due to her husband’s chronic aerophobia; and floating in her pool with noodles to avoid getting her head wet. An avid theatergoer, she loved musicals where she sang along much too forcefully for her family’s taste. She never missed a parade – whether it be marching in the Ludlow Memorial Day event in her always-present high heels or cheering from the sidelines at her hometown East Longmeadow’s Fourth of July march. Her driveway served as the Boston Garden for the neighborhood street-hockey kids and her backyard was Fenway Park for daily wiffleball matches. She tolerated the many broken windows, and she bandaged cuts until the streetlights came on.

Helen is survived by her devoted husband of 66 years David Garrow of Ludlow; her sons Stephen Garrow and wife Rima of Harrison, NY; Jeffrey Garrow of Ludlow; and her daughter Lisa Halpin and her husband Patrick of Wilbraham. She also leaves her brother Louis Marsella and her sister Joanne Mason, as well as her 4 grandchildren Alexander and Sophia Garrow, and Marisa and Jeffrey Halpin, as well as several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister Mary DeCarlo ad her beloved dog Sammy.

Funeral services for Helen will be Monday, May 20, 2024, at 8:30 AM at the Kapinos-Mazur Funeral Home, 64 Sewall St., Ludlow, MA followed by Liturgy of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM in St Elizabeth’s Parish, Hubbard St., Ludlow, MA. Burial will be private. Visiting hours at the funeral home will be Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 PM. The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the staff @ Spectrum Hospice and Healing Hands for their kindness, support and care during Helen’s illness. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Helen’s name to Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts, 20 Commercial Drive, Suite One, Wrentham, MA 02093 or the Friends of Ludlow Animal Control, P. O. Box 32, Ludlow, MA 01056