On the afternoon of Tuesday February 12, 2019, Helen R. (Heckman) Rice passed away at the Alliance Health Care at Rosewood Nursing Home in Peabody. Born in Salem, Helen was daughter of the late Helen (Spanks) and Charles Heckman. She attended Salem High School where she was a graduate in the class of 1948. After high school, she worked locally at Howards Laundromat in Salem.

Helen later met her husband Robert C. Rice, where they went onto get married and start a family in the same town she grew up in. She later continued that same tradition as she worked for Parker Brothers Games here in Salem for 25 years.

Even with her dedication to Parker Brothers and her family, Helen  found time to enjoy her passions of ballroom dancing all over the north shore with her sister in law Barbara. Helen was also a member of the Salem Senior Center and an active member at Grace Church in Salem.

Helen's laugh will be remembered by all who heard it throughout her time here in Salem and at Rosewood Nursing Home. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her as the loving mother and friend by all she encountered.

Helen is survived by: her son Robert and his spouse Melissa Sabean, her daughter Barbara Stamoulis; her granddaughter Leanne Morley, her step granddaughter Molly Febonio, Maggie Eveleth, Lisa Febonio, her  granddaughter Shelly Bescome, her grandson Bradley Morin, her six great-grandchildren, and her 1 greatgrandchild. She is predeceased by her siblings Jackie Heckman, William Heckman, and Barbara Freeman.

ARRANGEMENTS: Visiting hours will be held on Thursday February 14, 2019 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Murphy Funeral Home, located at 85 Federal St. Salem. A Funeral service will be held on Friday February 15, 2019 at the Murphy Funeral Home followed by a burial at Greenlawn Cemetery located at 57 Orne St, Salem, MA. Memorial contributions can be made to the Employee Fund at the Rosewood Nursing Home in Helen's memory for their loving care and friendship they provided to Helen during her time there. For more information or online guestbook, please visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com or call 978-744-0497.