Helen S. Stoodley, 96, of West Shore Road, Westport Island, died peacefully on Jan. 26, 2015 at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta.

She was born on May 14, 1918 in Watertown, Massachusetts, the daughter of Edwin and Katherine (Nutting) Stark.

She graduated from the Chandler Secretarial School in Boston and worked for various companies before accepting a position with a Boston attorney, Bartlett H. Stoodley. They fell in love and were subsequently married on March 16, 1944. She worked for many years at Wellesley College where Bart was a professor.

Helen fully enjoyed living in other countries and learning about other cultures during Bart’s visiting professorships in the Philippines, Hong Kong and Canada.

Helen and Bart’s most favorite place, though, was their wonderful home that they called “Mabuhay” on Westport Island. They spent many happy years there with family and friends and cruising the coast aboard their Maine-built boat, the Roba-Heba.

After Bart died in 1978, Helen continued to live on Westport Island, devoting herself to family and friends and meticulously caring for her adorable cats and beloved Golden Retrievers.

She is survived by two sons, Bartlett H. Stoodley Jr. and his wife Judith of Unity and Ronald Stoodley and his wife Leslie of Westport Island and four grandchildren, Sarah, Gillian, Katherine Chittim and her husband Noah and Benjamin.

The family would like to thank the staff of The Lincoln Home, Cove’s Edge Skilled Nursing and Miles Hospital for their excellent care.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday February 14, 2015 at the Westport Island Community Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate any donations to Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue, P.O. Box 808, Hudson, MA 01749-0808 or the Westport Island Human Resource Committee, 6 Fowles Point Road, Westport Island, ME 04578.

Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High Street, Bath. Condolences may be made online at www.daiglefuneralhome.com.