Helen Harriett Martin Aucoin, formerly of Loveland, was born on November 29, 1920, in Colebrook, NH and passed away peacefully on August 3, 2025, in Norcross, GA, where she was being cared for by her son Peter and his wife Margaret for the last 13 years. She grew up in Colebrook, NH and graduated from Colebrook Academy as Salutatorian in 1938. She graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, ME in 1942 and received an M. Ed from Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH in 1978. She met her husband, Albert, at Bates and they were married from March 24, 1945, until his passing in April 1982.

She is survived by her children Peter (Margaret) of Norcross, GA, Ann Damron of Brownsburg, IN, Paul (Lisa) of Westerville, OH, Mark (Connie) of Nacogdoches, TX and Matt (Sue) of Ellicott City, MD. She has 16 grandchildren, Beth Thaler (Jeff), Tim Aucoin, Dr. Linda Green (Chris), Jason Damron (Christa), Jeff Damron (Crystal), Dr. Justin Damron (Dr. Emily), Andy Aucoin (Jeremy), Ben Aucoin (Dominique), Evan Aucoin, Jack Aucoin, Allison Widacki (Matt), Kimberly Aucoin, Alex Aucoin (Samantha), Derek Aucoin (Dr. Hannah), Spencer Aucoin (Lauren) and Hayley Rickle (Griffin). She was also blessed with 30 great-grandchildren, Brendon, Carson, Ashley, Emerson, Charlie, Ellie, Caden, James, Hayden, Rylie, Silas, Ollie, Mara, Finn, Edie, Theo, Alexandria, Everett, Max, Lane, Lila, Scottie, Mason, Lily, Blake, Reese, Madelyn, Isla, Lucy, Kinsley. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews who she loved dearly.

Helen was an educator and loved to help children reach their full potential. She taught 5th grade in the Loveland City Schools for over 20 years and was recognized as "Outstanding Elementary School Teacher of America" in 1973 and recognized as a Jennings Scholar in 1986. She retired in 1989 but continued to tutor children in reading. She professed "that a good teacher needs to be a good listener, students tell you a lot and you can often be guided by how they feel they are being taught." She was an advocate for no child left behind before the United States Act of Congress promoted it. She organized several 5th grade class trips from Cincinnati to Washington, DC by train. The group would leave in the evening, travel all night, arrive in DC in the morning, bus around the city to various sites, get a picture on the steps of the US Congress and board the train for an all-night trip back to Cincinnati.

After her retirement in 1989, she was a cuddler at Christ Hospital in the Special Care Nursery, volunteered at the Loveland Historical Museum and at the Cincinnati Pops for the next 25 years. She held offices in the Loveland Historical Society and P.E.O. She liked to travel and visited Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and Belgium in Europe. She also visited Elderhostel's in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Arizona. For many years, she, and her sister Julia, would avoid winter by spending 6 weeks in Hawaii and then 6 weeks in Florida.

Her greatest joy in life was her family. She was always the happiest when her family would visit her in Loveland. She was a strong competitor in Hand and Foot Canasta or Spite and Malice, whether playing with friends, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed playing bridge. She loved playing the piano and continued to play well past her 100th birthday. She was involved in Scouts and PTA. She was an organist at the churches she attended and an accompanist for choral groups.

"Gram" as she was known by her grandchildren, lived longer than most people can fathom. She touched the lives of many, and left lasting impressions on all her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and others that were fortunate to know her. She lived a life full of kindness and love and will be so very missed by those who loved her. She was strong in her faith, attending daily mass and serving as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for mass and the homebound.

She was preceded in death by her husband Al, her parents Alfred Harold Martin and Jane Smith Martin, her brothers Andrew Joseph and Keith Huntoon, sister- Julia Frances and a brother Alfred Harold II that died at childbirth with her mother in 1928.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Columban Church, Loveland, OH, Saturday, August 30th at 10:30am with a visitation at St. Columban from 9:15 to 10:15am prior to the service. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Montgomery, OH following the mass.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to BreakthroughT1D