Mary (Helpin) Soares, 78, passed away on August 2 after a valiant battle with Parkinson’s. Mary was born in Glasgow, Scotland and was predeceased by her parents, Christina (Sweeney) Helpin and Adelard Helpin. She resided briefly in Canada before emigrating to the United States. She was the loving wife of the late Sylvester Soares. 

Mary was mother to three children: Robert Soares of Oxford, the late Gary Soares and his wife Janet of Palm Bay, Florida, and Jennifer King and her husband, Brian of Oxford. She was also the beloved sister of Susan Ricciuti and her husband, Phil. Mary leaves five grandchildren: Gary Soares Jr., Sunni (Soares) Chauncey and her husband Randy, and Christina Soares of Palm Bay, Florida, as well as Shea Norton and Hanna Norton of Framingham. She also had one great-grandchild, Dadoren Chauncey. 

Mary will best be remembered for her vivacious personality, her love of cooking and her passion for volunteering. She was a long-time volunteer for the homeless at Pine Street Inn in Boston and more recently volunteered at the Timothy Daniels Nursing home in Holliston. 

There will be a visitation on Monday, August 7 at Chesmore Funeral Home in Holliston at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome. This will be followed by an 11 a.m. Catholic Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Holliston, where Mary was a long-time parishioner. Burial will be at St. Mary’s cemetery immediately following the funeral mass. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to a charity of your choice or perform an act of kindness in her honor.