Helen Mary Evans

Our dear mother, Helen Rull Evans, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2025, just three days short of her 97th birthday. Helen was born and raised in her beloved South Boston, the daughter of the late John E. and Sarah T. Rull. 

During the height of World War II, at just 17 years old, Helen worked as a solderer after school. After she graduated from high school, Helen worked as a secretary for the War Department taking dictation and doing shorthand. After raising her children, she returned to a government job with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a secretary before retiring in 1985.

At the conclusion of the war, she met the love of her life, Desmond (Jim) Evans, a U.S. Navy veteran, at a dance at Moseley’s on the Charles. Their first dance was to “Stardust” and Jim won her over when he bought her a 5-cent coke. On February 16, 1952 they were married in New Hampshire and remained together until Jim’s death in 2015. They lived in Dorchester before they moved to Quincy and settled in the Beechwood Knoll neighborhood in Wollaston in 1958. Family gathered at her home for every Christmas, holiday and birthday celebration, taking for granted the certainty of Barry’s Deli meats and an O’Brien’s Bakery cake. 

In 1986 Helen and Jim purchased a home on Cape Cod where their children and grandchildren shared many great memories. During their retirement years they traveled with dear friends to Europe, America’s National Parks, and Florida on trips sponsored by the Castle Island Association of South Boston. 

 Helen was sharp as a whip until her dying day, with an iron-clad memory and a gift for solving puzzles and word games. 

 Helen is predeceased by her husband Desmond (Jim), and son Jim, and is survived by daughters Patricia Wolongevicz of Quincy, Maureen Schnur (Ric) of Framingham, and son Bob (Mary) of Quincy. She was a cherished grandmother to Jim (Lauren), Kerry (Colby Clark), Dan (Nicole), Chris (Katie), Sarah, Ariel (Alec Hirsch), Ryan (Nicole), Colin and Quinlan; and a very special great-grandmother to Aaron, Leah, Jayden, Desi and Cassidy. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. Helen is survived by her sister Frances Preston of Medford and was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters Mary Tinnell, Dorothea Hines, John Rull, Cecilia Heiser, Joseph Rull and Edward Rull. Helen also loved the family’s two dogs, Sandy and Rory. 

 The Evans Family would like to acknowledge the wonderful care Helen received at South Shore Hospital during multiple admissions in the last year and at home by Bayada Home Health Care. We would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Assisted Living for their kindness and support during Helen’s brief time living there. We thank Celtic Angels for their immediate assistance, and for providing loving care. We will be forever grateful to Helen’s team from Beacon Hospice for their guidance and care every step of the way. Thank you to all for the many kindnesses you showed to Helen and her family during Helen’s final journey. 

Visiting Hours will be on Sunday, February 9, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St. in Quincy. The funeral service will be on Monday, February 10, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Divine Mercy Parish (St. Ann Church), 757 Hancock Street in Quincy. Burial will follow in the Pine Hill Cemetery, 815 Willard Street in Quincy. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pan Mass Challenge in memory of our mother. Online donations can be made at https://donate.pmc.org/JE0155. Checks can be made out to “PMC” and addressed as: 

Pan-Mass Challenge , 77 Fourth Avenue, Needham, MA 02494 - Rider JE0155

Rest in peace Mom, Nana, Great-Nana; you are forever in our hearts.