Helen Ray (Altenburg) McMahon

LEOMINSTER --- Helen Ray McMahon, 87, of Leominster MA, died at 8:30PM, Thursday, November 9, 2017 at her Leominster Crossing residence, surrounded by family.

“Ray” was born February 18, 1930 in Yonkers, NY, daughter of the late Dorothy (Corbett) Altenburg, and William Holmes. She was married to Fred McMahon on April 7, 1951 in Chapmanville, PA. They had been married 58 years when Fred passed away in June 2009.

Ray graduated from Townville High School, PA in 1948. She started work at the American Viscose in Meadville, PA where she met her future husband, Fred. Over the next thirty five years, she held a variety of positions ranging from fork lift driver in a glass plant, greeting card maker to school bus driver.

She attended Chapmanville Community Church and was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Chapmanville Volunteer Fire Dept. She was also a member of the Elks Lodge 2064 in Titusville, PA.

In Ray’s earlier years, she enjoyed boating, camping and traveling with her husband and family. She also enjoyed gardening. After retirement, she and Fred became involved with Fred’s Army reunions and enjoyed traveling to attend them. In her later years, she was an avid reader, enjoyed playing solitaire and loved putting jigsaw puzzles together.

She is survived by her son, Michael McMahon and his wife Linda of Harpswell, ME; a daughter, Susan McMahon and her spouse, Terri Phaneuf of Fitchburg, MA; a granddaughter Megan McMahon of Old Orchard Beach, ME; and Rays beloved cat, Dexter. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Fred McMahon on June 5, 2009.

A remembrance gathering will be held in Leominster, MA. An additional memorial will be held at the Chapmanville Community Church in PA. She will be interred with her beloved husband Fred at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Pennsylvania.

Rays family would like to thank the staff at Leominster Crossing Assisted Living Facility as well as Nashoba Hospice. Their kindness and loving support will always be remembered for how they cared for Ray in her final years.

The family ask that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rays name to the Nashoba Nursing Service and Hospice, 3 Patterson Road, Suite 3, Shirley, MA 01464.

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