Mrs. Helen Sylvia Grandma Helen Raymond, age 87, of Greenville, passed away early Saturday morning, April 8, 2006 at Spectrum Health-Blodgett Campus, East Grand Rapids. The daughter of John & Sophia (Bendicksen) Waterman, she was born on June 24, 1918 near Suttons Bay. Helen worked for many years as a housekeeper for Mr. & Mrs. Harry Nelson and Mr. & Mrs. Ray Tower.

For the past 28 years Grandma Helen was involved with the Foster Grandparent Program, with 17 of those years in Rachelle Stouts classroom at Walnut Hills Elementary School in Greenville. Helen was devoted to the children, with every task she performed done with love and care. She had the ability to touch little ones lives in a beautiful way just by tying a shoe, zipping a coat, reading a story, and especially by continually giving much needed hugs. Helen was a true teacher at heart and brought new and exciting knowledge to so many. She was loved and cherished by staff, students, and their families, and will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to be touched by her. Her love, dedication, and contributions to the youth of the community will always be carried on in the memories of the little children of Greenville. Above all, she delighted in spending time with her family, especially her own grandkids. She had also been a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Greenville.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Elmer Harris in 1957, and Kenneth Raymond in 1964; a daughter, Shirley Nielsen; three infant children; a sister, Julia Ziegler; a brother, Leroy Waterman; and three grandchildren, Pamela Conrad, Mark Nielsen, and Christopher Maynard.

Surviving are five children and their spouses, Shelva & Ron Conrad of Sidney, Wallace & Connie Harris of Greenville, Nona Harris of Howard City, Vern Harris & Kathi Beech of Greenville, John Harris of Lakeview; and Deb & Paul Skarl of Greenville; a son-in-law, Rexford Nielsen of Cedar Springs; a brother and sister-in-law, Fredrick & Helen Waterman of Ohio; twelve grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Grandma Helen will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at the Brown-Teman & Christiansen Funeral Home, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville, with burial following at West Montcalm Cemetery. The Rev. Scott Lindner, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, will officiate. Visitation is Monday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Instead of flowers, Helen would have appreciated contributions in her memory to the Foster Grandparent Program (in care of EightCap). To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Helens online guest book, or for more information, please visit: www.christiansen-fh.com