Alice Helena Jones

South Portland - A. Helena "Mod" Jones, 95, of Sawyer Street, passed away Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at home surrounded by her family. Part of the Greatest Generation, Helena was born to the late Patrick and Mary (Kane) Foley on April 11, 1924 in Portland. Raised in Portland, Helena graduated from Cathedral High School in 1942. Following high school, Helena worked as a buyer for the Rines Brothers Store. Many women during that time period didn't work, but she was proud and happy to make her own living. Her life would soon change, however, when she met George Jones on a blind date. Little did either of them know, but that blind date would be the beginning of a nearly 50 year of marriage. Helena and George were married on May 10, 1954 at Sacred Heart Church and started their family in Cape Elizabeth where they operated Jonesy's Service Center. However, the majority of their life was at 6 Chase Street in South Portland where they raised their 7 children on the foundations of faith and love. Helena stopped working to be able to pour everything she had into the care for her children, a trait that continued with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even great-great grandchildren. Despite raising 7 children, she still found time to be active in her community and do things she enjoyed. She was a longtime communicant of Holy Cross Church where she was a member of the Sodality and garden club. In addition, she enjoyed her Big 20 Bowling League, shopping and having lunch with her sisters, and was a member of the PTA, VFW and the Irish American Club. As if she didn't give enough of herself already, Helena was a faithful volunteer at Mercy Hospital for over 25 years with over 6000 hours of volunteer time. Helena will be remembered as a caring, loving and extremely generous woman who wasn't afraid to laugh at her own jokes. Family was everything to her, and her family knew it. Helena would always make time to be there for others. Her family and friends knew she had an open door policy where she would welcome you in with a hot cup of tea. Her loving nature and family centered nature will be deeply missed, but never forgotten. Helena was predeceased by her husband, George Jones in 2000; sisters, Katherine Foley, Frances Curran, Evelyn Foley and Florence Green. She is survived by her daughters, Maureen Tripp and husband John of Scarborough, Cynthia Jones of South Portland, Pamela Jones of South Portland and Mary Cobb and former husband Paul both of South Portland; sons, George Jones, Jr. of South Portland, Gregg Jones and wife Katherine of Westbrook and Gary Jones and wife Margaret of South Portland. Helena was a loving Nana who had a unique and special relationship with each of her grandchildren: Patricia Frederick and husband Charles, Richard LaBerge, Martin LaBerge and wife Carol, Theresa Shaw and husband Robert, Angela Doughty and husband Gus, Brian Hamlin and wife Erin, Karen McCue and husband Sean, Steven Jones and wife Erin, Matthew Jones and wife Rachel, Rachel Bryant and husband Brad, Paul Cobb, Jr and wife Jamie, Joshua Cobb and Malina Cobb. In addition, she is also survived by 29 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren; special nieces Carolyn Hilton and husband Lawrence and Joann Zeegers and husband Garry. Helena also leaves behind a special friend who was like a daughter, Nannette Whitten and several other nieces and nephews and a cousin Donald Kane of South Portland. Visiting Hours celebrating her life will be held on Sunday, August 25 from 3-6PM at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. Prayers will be recited at the funeral home on Monday, August 26 at 9:15AM followed by a 10AM Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road, South Portland. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland. Following services, a reception will be held at the Conroy-Tully Walker Reception Center, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the South Portland Food Cupboard, 130 Thaddeus Street, South Portland, Maine 04106.