Helen Elizabeth (Sworobowicz) Garand

Helen Elizabeth (Sworobowicz) Garand, wife of the late City Marshall Joseph Raymond Garand, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Mary Immaculate Restorative Health Care Center, Lawrence, Ma on June 8th.  She was 94 years old.

Helen was born Dec. 27, 1922 to the late Matthew and Edwina (Samko) Sworobowicz in Newburyport, MA.  She was the sister of the late Mary Sworobowicz Rasmussen and Frank Sworobowicz.

Helen attended the Brown School, Jackman School and graduated from Newburyport High in 1941.  She was famous at NHS as one of the best baton twirlers!  She was a talented roller-skater and was asked to join a professional roller skating show but her parents didn’t want that of their little polish girl.  She later went on to marry Joseph Raymond Garand of Newburyport and together they raised three children while she helped Joseph study hard and work his way up the ranks in the Newburyport Police Department.  They were happily married for over sixty years.

Helen was an avid shell collector and loved nothing more than a fun day hunting the seashore as was evident in her fancy jars full of shells and a garden full of driftwood and shells.  She loved to go bargain hunting and fancied long car rides, especially up the coast, to Vermont and even Canada for lunch.  She was a big Patriot fan and loved ice-skating competitions.  She loved nothing more when her grandchildren were born and she and her husband spent many fun days playing with them and taking them out to see the world, she was very excited to see the birth of three beautiful great-grandchildren.  

Helen’s idea of a good meal was ice cream, clams, lobster rolls, pig’s feet, snicker bars and fruit slice candies.  She did not like to cook, but she was famous for her awesome apple and blueberry pies and stuffed polish cabbage and cucumber soup.

She played a very strong role in her family and shared her faith from the family pew at church while her husband got up to read at Mass, her son altar served and her daughters sang and played the organ.  She loved working at the parish fairs and bean suppers at the former St Louis de Gonzague Church, where they worshipped until it closed.  Prayer was how she ended her day no matter how tired; for others, not herself.

Helen is survived by her son Ronald Matthew Garand of Newbury, MA and his step-son, Jason Sanborn of Seabrook NH, Cynthia Ann Bernadette Garand Arsenault of Haverhill, MA, and Susan Angela Garand Comeau and her husband Richard of Newburyport, MA.  She will be missed by her grandchildren, Justin Matthew Currie Downs and his wife Sarah of Amesbury, MA, Brandon Joseph Chandler Downs of Lowell, MA and Brent Matthew Joseph Arsenault and his wife Kalah of Hopkinton, MA.  She was the proud Pra-Babche of Emma Joyce Arsenault (18 months), Abby Rae Arsenault (2 weeks) and William Michael Downs (6 months). She is survived by several nieces and nephews.

Calling Hours will be at the Immaculate Conception Church Green Street Newburyport, MA on Sunday June 11, 2017 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.  Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday June 12th at 12:30 at Immaculate Conception, internment will follow at St Mary’s cemetery in Newburyport. The Twomey, LeBlanc, & Conte Funeral Home 193 High St. Newburyport, MA 01950 is assisting Mrs. Garand’s family with her funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Helen’s memory to Mary Immaculate Nursing and Restorative Center, 172 Lawrence Rd, Lawrence, MA 01841 attn: Anna Frankenfeld.  Helen was so lovingly cared for and loved at this center beyond our expectations and the family will be forever grateful.

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