1947 – 2016

AUBURN — Helen B. (Krzys) David, 69, took her last breath after a short battle with pancreatic cancer Monday, Dec. 19, in Auburn at the Androscoggin Hospice House surrounded by her family.

She was born in Haverhill, Mass., on Nov. 6, 1947, to Walter and Josephine (Sagan) Krzys. She went to Tilton Grammar School and graduated, in the business course, from Haverhill High School in 1965. She later attended Andover Business Institute to become a highly skilled key-punch operator. She worked for a prominent law firm in Methuen, Mass., then later back in Haverhill at Eastern Canvas making clothing and equipment for the war effort in Vietnam.

In 1962, Helen being very shy and having a crush on Gary David, her close friends began to make sure she was always in eyesight of him, usually at St. Joseph’s bowling alley or around Lafayette Square. They eventually made eye contact, dated for four years and the rest is history. Gary got drafted but went in the U.S. Navy. One night while stationed in Florida, he called and asked if she wanted to get married. She was caught off guard and said they had no money. Gary suggested maybe if they could save some money, like maybe $1,000, it could work. Helen said she’d do what she could. Did she ever … and that would be the beginning of what Helen could accomplish. She saved just about all of the $1,000 and they were married in Haverhill at the Polish church, St. Michael’s, on Dec. 17, 1966. The 17th was picked because it was their lucky number, having won a complete tableware setting for four at Salisbury Beach one year.

The wedding didn’t go without a hitch, as Gary was having problems with his grades in his naval training and to get home in time required the help of Helen’s father, who contacted two prominent senators, Sen. Jake Rurak and one who happened to be Sen. Ted Kennedy, who did the actual connecting with the U.S. Navy.

Helen and Gary finally got together when Gary got transferred to the Naval Air Station in Brunswick in January 1967, where they lived in Lisbon Falls until September 1969. It was here that they would later find a place where they could call home as a family.

After Gary’s discharge, and right after their daughter was born, they moved back to Haverhill. Gary got a job with Honeywell and Helen stayed at home and soon Derek was born. In 1976, Gary had an offer to move back to Maine with Honeywell and Helen reluctantly agreed to move. They moved back and bought a home just about a mile from the apartment they lived in while in the Navy. The move was helped by the friendships they established when they were there previously. Here they resided, in the same house, for the next 40 years.

In Lisbon Falls, Helen worked in the office of the old Worumbo Mill, the Family Mutual bank, Montgomery Ward in sales (which was probably her favorite job ever) and later with Arrow-Hart/Cooper Industries as an assembler, retiring after 20 years.

Helen battled and conquered many health issues over the years, but pancreatic cancer wasn’t going to be one of them.

She most enjoyed shopping for the children and grandkids, cooking and arranging family get-togethers and was the ultimate people person. As a young girl she learned to create rhymes, like “diggy-diggy,” that will carry on for generations.

Helen and Gary celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn with family and staff, sealed with a kiss.

Helen leaves behind her husband of 50 years, Gary, of Lisbon Falls; her daughter, Tracy Givens, and husband, Bill, of Monmouth; and her son, Derek, and wife, Jennifer (Harvey), of Lisbon Falls; grandchildren, Jayme and Wade Givens and Nicholas David; her brother, Stanley Krzys and his wife, Gloria, of Londonderry, N.H.; sister, Stasia Caisse, of Plaistow, N.H., and brother, Edward Krzys, of Plaistow, N.H.; nephew, Michael Krzys and his partner, Sherri Wills, of Derry, N.H., and Kimberly Krzys of Pompano Beach, Fla.

She was predeceased by her parents; a sister-in-law, Janett Krzys; a brother-in-law, Paul Caisse; and several aunts and uncles.

The family would like to thank Dr. Paul Perkins, Bath, Dr. Steven Fairchild, Dr. Daniel Rausch and the Central Maine HealthCare Family, St. Mary’s Hospital, Dr. Michael Kelley and all the staff at Unit AB3 and especially all the staff at Androscoggin Hospice House for making Helen’s final journey quiet and peaceful, meeting all the family’s needs.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosmanfuneralhome.com.

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