Helen M. McDonald

WATERVILLE – Helen M. McDonald passed away peacefully on April 29, 2025, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, following a brief illness. Born on Jan. 1, 1943, in Caribou, Maine, Helen was the daughter of Clement and Iris (Blanchette) McDonald. She grew up in a large Irish Catholic family with eleven siblings.

She graduated from Caribou High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Emmanuel College. She later earned a Master of Education from the Univ. of Maine at Orono and a Master of Science in Educational Administration from the Univ. of Southern Maine.

Helen dedicated four decades to teaching high school English, first in Caribou and later in Fort Fairfield, where she chaired the English department. Known for her high standards and dedication to her students, she was often described as one of the toughest – and best – teachers her students ever had. A lifelong learner, Helen later completed the necessary coursework and training to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Helen was a devout Catholic and active in her local parishes. She also loved music and was an accomplished pianist, organist, and singer. She lent her talents to various churches in Aroostook County and Waterville, serving as organist and cantor, and also enjoyed singing with the Caribou Choral Society and the Colby-Kennebec Choral Society.

Helen raised her family in Fort Fairfield but moved to Waterville when she retired from teaching. Friends from her Waterville apartment community remember her fondly for her kindness toward her neighbors and the efforts she took to make the building feel like home, from planting flowers outside to decorating the common spaces for the seasons.

Helen is survived by her two children, Gilbert Thibeau and his wife Tanya Thibeau of Waterville and Briana Thibeau and her husband Joel Weinshank of Annapolis, Md. She also is survived by three grandchildren, Grace, Tobin, and Tennyson Thibeau; and nine siblings, Clement Joseph (“Joe”) McDonald (wife Susan), James McDonald (wife Cathy), Michael McDonald, John McDonald (wife Ruth), Catherine Starr, Francis McDonald, Jeanne Savage, Ruth McDonald, and Paul McDonald (wife Denise). She was predeceased by her parents, Clement and Iris McDonald; and her brothers Peter and Thomas.

Service arrangements are pending and will be shared with family and friends when finalized.