AUGUSTA – Helen Austin, 84, of Chelsea, passed away Feb. 17, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, after a short illness.

She was the youngest daughter of Mary Bender and Albert Radecker and was born in Scranton, Pa. on Dec. 22, 1922. At the age of five and the death of her mother, the family moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., where she attended school, graduating from Bay Ridge High School.

She was employed at the Augusta Mental Health Institute for 32 years as switchboard operator, receptionist and secretary to the chief of volunteer services, until her retirement in February 1986.

In March of 1986, she was offered a part-time job at AMHI in the personnel department doing payroll and remained in that capacity for the next 10 years. She enjoyed meeting and working with people and keeping busy.

She enjoyed cooking, especially making new recipes which she was eager to share with family, friends and co-workers. She had a great interest in gardening, growing both vegetables and flowers. She enjoyed feeding and watching the birds. In her later years, she purchased a computer and had great fun with it. Her constant companion was a toy poodle named, Pepper, who gave her much love and companionship.

She is survived by a son, Edward of Chelsea; two daughters, Donna Rollins, and husband, Robert, of Windsor and Diane Bonnevie, and husband, Richard, of Jay; granddaughters, Shelley Rollins of Windsor and Renee Austin of Chelsea; grandsons, Dana Rollins, and wife, Tami, of Augusta, Mark Bonnevie, and wife, Tina and Troy Bonnevie, and wife, Dixie, of Jay; seven great-grandchildren, Zachary and Mallory Bonnevie, Ashley and Alyssa Brann, Jessica Rollins and Sydney and Shayna Bonnevie.

She was predeceased by her mother and father; her sister, Rose; Donald McGlauflin, her companion of 30 years; and her beloved miniature poodle, Robbie.