Helen Hamilton Paulsen died July 10, 2014.

She was born in Arlington, Mass., on June 7, 1922. She was the second daughter born to Mary Alma Nichols Hamilton and Leicester Forsyth (Bud) Hamilton. She spent the winters in Arlington and the summers on Murray Hill Road in East Boothbay. She attended Arlington High School where she excelled in sports and academics. After high school she went to Mt. Holyoke College, majoring in economics. Her college days were overshadowed somewhat by World War II, but she and her classmates chipped in with organizing a recycled furniture store for students, taking jobs left behind by U.S. soldiers and sailors and starting an a cappella singing group called the V-8s. Helen thrived in South Hadley and graduated in 1944. She is remembered as “Hammie” with pretty auburn curls and a sense of humor and fun with a smart and practical temperament.

After attending Katherine Gibbs School in Boston, she lived and worked in the Beacon Hill neighborhood with some college pals where a visiting cousin introduced her to a fellow naval officer whom she would marry a few years later. Helen and David Sibley (Mike) Paulsen wed on August 9, 1947 in Medford, Mass., and left for a honeymoon and a new life in post-war Europe. Three countries, countless adventures and four children later, the Paulsens returned to the states and settled in Bethesda, Md., where their fifth child was born.

In Bethesda, Helen became involved in the PTA, Scouting, the Republican Committee, volunteering at the hospital and working with the Women of St. John’s Church in the Opportunity Shop. She worked the polls at every election and could often be found helping at Bradley Elementary in classrooms and on the playground.

A tomboy, an athlete and a scholar, Helen was a good student with a creative eye. Her artistic side (which she would tell you was simply an ability to follow “the directions”) was beautifully crafted in projects featuring crewel embroidery, needlepoint and knitted garments. She helped her children in countless ways including helping them with English grammar, math skills, to speak French, throw a football, play baseball, make gravy, cook a roast and fry chicken.

Her generosity in volunteering lasted into her elder years with local hospitals and the Riverwoods community being the lucky recipients of hundreds of hours of free labor. An avid crossword puzzler who also enjoyed Cryptoquip, the Jumble, Ken-Ken and Sudoku, her children learned to make plenty of copies of the puzzle page in the paper, so we could all participate.

She is survived by a large and ever-expanding family; son, David H. Paulsen (Jayne) of Charlotte, N.C.; daughter, “Bonnie” Jean Michael (Terry) of Philadelphia, Pa., son, “Duke” William S. Paulsen (Susan) of Austin, Texas; daughter, “Candy” Anne Masters (David) of the SV Endeavor, Seattle, Wash.; and son, Scott N. Paulsen (Rachel) of Round Rock, Texas. The Paulsen family also includes 14 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

A family memorial service for this remarkable couple is planned for later in the summer in Murray Hill. No flowers please, but donations may be made to your favorite charitable organization or to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.