Helen G. Rundquist

Helen passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family in Harrison Hospital, Bremerton, Washington on the morning of February 7, 2016. She was born December 21, 1926 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The daughter of Helen English and David Donovan of Pawtucket, she had two sisters, Ruth and Betty, whom she loved dearly.

The early years of Helen’s life were spent in Rhode Island and she graduated from Shea High School in Providence. She loved spending time with her family, attending movies and reading. On November 17, 1951, Helen married Stanley Rundquist, a Navy Aerographer, in Providence, Rhode Island. They later had three children, Robert, Karen and Richard.

We are all so proud of our Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Aunt. She was a hardworking, kind lady her whole life, from raising three kids to working as an executive secretary. After moving to various states in New England, she moved to California in 1966. Helen began work as an Administrative Assistant progressing to Executive Secretary at Hughes Helicopters from which she retired in 1988. She was highly respected and much loved by all of her coworkers. She loved her friends and colleagues.

Helen moved to Washington with Stan in late 1988. She loved flower gardens, and soaking in the view of the Puget Sound and Mt Rainier from her Manchester home, which she cherished. She loved Eli and Peyton Manning and supported whichever team they were on. She was looking forward to the Super bowl! She loved her family, all of her extended family, and loved having parties to celebrate events such as birthdays, graduations, other events and holidays and always made every party special. She was kind, gentle, generous, and fun. She had many members of her family living with her at various times as well as their friends and her own friends that she tried to help. She lost her beloved dog Pepper when she moved to Washington but that is not to say she did not have pets in her home. She inherited all the pets her grandchildren could not keep; Buck, Bear, Lucky, Shug, Diesel and Po.
Helen remained self-reliant and strong, remaining in her beloved Manchester home, maintaining the house with great joy along with much loved dogs Lucky and Shug, until her own death. She is preceded in death by Stanley and by her eldest sister, Ruth and her husband, Paul; her nephew, Jay Marchand, and her younger sister Betty and husband George; and by nephew George Corrente and niece, Deb Williams. She is survived by two sons, Robert Rundquist, of Port Orchard, and Richard Rundquist and daughter-in law, Debbie of Folsom, California and former wife and family friend Tricia Torres; and one daughter, Karen Barreras and son in-law Steve Barreras. There are many grandchildren, Kara Rundquist (Paul) of Port Orchard, Ty Rundquist (Ayla) of Port Orchard, Matthew Rundquist (Michelle) of Seabeck, Robert Rundquist Jr. of Port Orchard, Richard Tucker of Folsom, California, Timothy Barreras of Port Orchard but currently residing Newmarket, New Hampshire and Michelle Barreras of Poulsbo, Washington, and seven great grandchildren, Cierra, Kody, Kailey, Melina, Tyler, Max and Mia; all of whom she adored. Her extended family includes the children of Ruth and Betty and the children of her grandchildren’s significant others.