Helen A. Showalter

Niantic- Helen A. Showalter, of Bonita Springs, Florida passed away on December 11, 2015 with family by her side. She was born November 18, 1937 in Altoona, PA the daughter of William Sherman and Louise Clear Aaron. She married Gene E. Showalter on October 25, 1958 in Altoona, PA. They came to Connecticut in 1960 and made their home in East Lyme, where they raised three children before retiring to Bonita Springs, FL in 2002. Helen graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, PA and attended the University of New Haven for studies in Health Care Management. She was employed at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital for 30 years where she developed utilization review, quality assurance and risk management programs. Helen retired as the Director of Risk Management in 2001. She was an active volunteer with the Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut. Helen enjoyed traveling the world with Gene, including living in England for three years where she made many friends. She also took joy in going to the theater, movies, playing bridge, entertaining and the beach. Her favorite place to spend summers was on McCook's Beach. It was there that Helen and Gene made many wonderful friendships that have continued for over 40 years. She loved family trips to Disney World and having friends and family visit at her home in Bonita Springs. Helen treasured time spent with family and was especially proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as she watched them grow and thrive. Besides her husband of 57 years, Gene E. Showalter, she is survived by her three children and their spouses, Jennifer Charron and her husband Daniel of Norwich, David Showalter and his wife Carole of East Lyme and Kara Breen and her husband Robert of Mississauga, Canada; Her grandchildren Damian Charron and his wife Angie, Nathan Charron and his wife Jill, Jacob Charron and his wife Leigh, Eva Charron and her fianc Ryan Acosta, Sarah Showalter, Sandra Showalter, William Breen, Douglas Breen, Helen Breen and five great grandchildren. Two loving sisters and their spouses, Jane Hatch and her husband Ted of Duncansville, PA and Beth Ekner and her husband Jan of Santa Rosa, CA. She also leaves many dear nieces and nephews whom she adored. She was predeceased by her brother William S. Aaron III. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday December 16, 2015 at 10 O'clock at St. Agnes Church 22 Haigh Avenue Niantic. Interment will follow in Union Cemetery, Niantic. The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday evening from 5 to 7 pm at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home 48 Grand Street Niantic. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut 7 Vauxhall St. New London, CT 06320 or to the Center for Hospice Care of Southeastern Connecticut 227 Dunham St. Norwich, CT 06360.