Helen M Kiddy
June 4, 1944 ~ August 14, 2018
Resided in:
South Portland, ME
South Portland- Helen Mary Coghlan Kiddy, 74, of Gary Maietta Parkway died unexpectedly at her home on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.
Helen was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on June 4, 1944 the daughter of the late Edward M. and Marion (Martin) Coghlan. She was raised in Milton, MA with her four sisters, Pat, Gerri, Ginny and Mary and her brother Ed. She spent summers on Cape Cod with her family which included her father's two sisters Helen (Ditta) and Elizabeth (Betsy). Her memories from time spent on the Cape were very special and she spoke of them often. She attended local schools and graduated from Fontbonne Academy in the class of 1962.
On November 19, 1971 she married Edward V. Kiddy in Nashua, NH, and on July 6, 1985 they renewed their vows at St. Michael's Church in Avon, Mass. Helen and Edward shared many interests including a great love of being Irish. Together, they made the trip of a lifetime traveling to the Emerald Isle in Ireland. They also had a love affair for the Boston Red Sox's and attended many games throughout their marriage.
Helen spent her entire work career at the Massachusetts General Hospital, following in the footsteps of her aunts Betsy, who was a bookkeeper, and Ditta, who was in charge of the operating rooms. Helen retired in 2006 after 40 years of service at M.G.H. with the last 33 years in child psychiatry. "It was the best job ever" all who worked with her truly loved and respected her.
Helen had a tremendous work ethic and was also the family caretaker. When her aunts became ill towards the end of their lives, it was Helen that helped them in their last remaining days. She did the same for her parents and her husband Edward. She would work full-time at MGH then return home to whomever she was caring for, to change bed sheets, cook meals, administer medications, schedule visiting nurses and get family members to and from doctor's appointments.
Helen loved her family, being Irish, and anything Boston. The quickest way to get her to smile was to mention any of those things. She was a gregarious woman who loved socializing, but never wanted to be the center of attention. She had a wonderful blunt wit about her, but could also tell someone to "Go to hell" in a way that made the person look forward to the journey.
Helen was predeceased by her husband, Edward V. Kiddy in 1996; two sisters, Patricia Ann Samodelov and Virginia Coghlan; a brother, Edward M. Coghlan Jr. She is survived by a son, Scott and his wife Karen Murphy of Scarborough, ME; four grandchildren, Nicholas J., Brendan S., Jacob E. and Maggie K. Murphy all of Scarborough, ME; two sisters, Geraldine and her husband Joseph Lynch of Norwood, MA, and Mary C. and her husband Mark Reed of Hilton Head Island, SC
Visiting hours celebrating Helen's life will be held on Thursday, August 23, 2018 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland, Maine. A graveside service will be held on Friday, August 24, 2018 at 12:30pm at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Ave., Bourne, Massachusetts. To view Helen's memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com
Those who wish may make contributions in Helen's memory to: Barbara Bush Children's Hospital, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland, ME 04101
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Helen and I shared a love of the Red Sox, although I only had the gift of her friendship for the almost 5 years when we both lived in the same apartment complex..Her abrupt sense of humor matched mine and we had many wonderful conversations especially discussing our similar operating room experience. She will be sooo missed in the corridors of our complex wearing her Red Sox or Irish tee shirts…. I was sorry to see her struggle with her health especially this past year. I will truly miss this lady….Jan Littlefield
– Janice Littlefield
It was with great sadness that I read about Helen’s unexpected passing. It was only last year that I was able to reconnect with my childhood friend through a woman that was on a Holy Land trip a few years ago . Helen and I spent many a Sunday afternoon sitting in her aunts Red Sox season tickets seats in the left field grandstand watching the baseball greats: Ted Williams, Jimmy Piersall and Frank Malzone. I am so thankful that we met for lunch in Ogunquit and shared so many wonderful memories of our joint past and the events of our lives since we last saw each other 20 years ago.
Joe and I will be at her graveside service on Friday. Rest in peace, my old friend.
– Gerri Gerah Broderick
Helen Kiddy was famous at the MGH in Boston! Famous for her smarts, wit, honesty, sense of humor, the internal politics and her careful custody and stewardship of medical students, fellows and new recruits. When the world at MGH seemed confusing you just walked up the Bulfinch stair case and stopped at Mike’s office (Michael Jellinek MD, assoc chief Psych, Senior VP) and sat in the chair next to her desk. All could be resolved….
Helen’s candor, ‘tell it like it is’ and ability to ‘see through’ the mugginess gave us clarity and a laugh.. I’ll never forget so many moments with Helen – when she had a TIA (mini-stroke) one morning – when she called me and her voice was somewhat garbled but she knew something was seriously wrong. John Herman (MD, Psychiatry) was rapidly at her desk… as we called various people to get the path to the MRI expedited.. Helen’s humor during this episode continued as she narrated her observations – with verbal difficulty as she was having a ‘mini-stroke’ … SHe had directed ‘John’ (‘John’ to Helen) to grab her purse which he obeyed (as you did with Helen) – and threw it over his shoulder. We arrived at the Founders House MRI and Helen remarked “John that purse looks good on you.”
Inevitably often when you stopped by Helen had a young doc in her chair … As Dr. Jellinek’s ‘admin assistant’ she managed his demanding schedule with aplomb. You knew if you wanted to get to talk to Mike you had to ‘get by’ Helen. For those who treated staff with a hierarchical attitude, i.e. ‘only a secretary’ your chances were greatly minimized of ever getting to Mike! I remember the delight and rapture and poignancy when Helen found her Maine family. I remember her love of her husband who had died years early and her sisters and family .. and the Red Sox. Helen I only regret not getting to sit down in your chair in these recent years but always think of you as an iconic heart and soul of the best people at MGH Boston. XO Paula (Paula Buick RN ex MGH).
– Paula Buick