It is with the heaviest of hearts that the Paradis family relay the news that on 11/08/2024 they lost their true matriarch, Helene Mae Paradis, nee Harris.

Helene was a warrior in every sense of the word.

Her childhood was not easy. She was born with a birth defect that left one of her legs much shorter than the other. This caused her to spend much of her childhood in and out of hospitals where they first diagnosed her condition as polio. She was completely isolated from her friends and family for extended periods of time. Her doctors told her she would be in a wheelchair before her 30th birthday. She eventually ended up with one leg four inches longer than the other. She was still walking on her own the day of her passing at 91 years old.

As a young adult Helene raised her infant son completely alone in Norfolk Virginia while her husband, eventually of 60 years, was out to sea serving our country in the US Navy.

Tragedy struck Helene in 1985 when she lost her first-born son to meningitis. He too served our country in the US Airforce at the time of his passing. She always lived with that grief, but somehow found a way to be there in every way imaginable for her family.
Helene was incredibly kind and generous to everyone she knew. Helene was dedicated to religion, often working late hours to help pay for tuition, insisting they go to a Catholic school, even though she herself was Methodist. Helene never forgot those that were in need. Her final check book revealed that she was still donating money to many different charities until the day of her passing, on a very fixed income.
The world lost a true angel.

Helene is preceded and reunited with her adoring husband of 60 years Edward Theodore Paradis and her remarkable son Edward Raymond Paradis. We pray she once again is holding and loving both.
Helene is survived by her two children, Yvonne Tresnan along with her husband Francis, and David Paradis along with his wife Toni (Anna Dugack).

Helene leaves behind an amazing ancestry consisting of twelve grandchildren, Currisa Roesler (Chris), Kyle Tresnan (Rachel), Tyler Tresnan (fiancé Heather), Linsea Foster (Jake), Nicholas Tresnan, Casea Paradis (Partner Sabastian), Ryan Paradis, Masea Paradis, Aydan Paradis, Brandan Paradis, Lusea Paradis and Jordan Paradis.

Helene also leaves behind three great grandchildren, Amber Roesler, Emily Tresnan and Strider Foster. She will be deeply missed by so many.

Helene will be put to rest on November 15, 2024 – five years to the day after her husband.