Loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who was an active member of St. Theresa’s Church
NORTH ANDOVER — Helen E. (Costello) Parow, 102, of North Andover, formerly of North Reading and Medford, passed away on Monday, August 19, 2024. She was the loving wife of the late Walter J. Parow.
Born in Medford on April 8, 1922, she was the daughter of the late John and Agnes (Kerrigan) Costello. Helen was predeceased by her seven siblings and beloved son-in-law, John D. (Jack) McFarland.
Helen was raised in Medford and was a graduate of Medford High School, Class of 1940. She later graduated from Katharine Gibbs School of Business in Boston.
Helen moved to North Reading in 1953. She worked as an administrative assistant at the J. Turner Hood School in North Reading for 10 years and as the office manager for Dr. Frank Odlum, DDS, for 15 years.
Helen was an active member and volunteer for St. Theresa’s Church in North Reading for many years; she was a member and Past President of the Ladies Sodality. She later became a member and volunteer of St. Michael’s Church in North Andover, where she was an organizer and leader for donations for the Accounting Group. She was also a member and volunteer for the North Andover Senior Center where she enjoyed playing bingo.
Helen was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Family members include her loving son, John E. Parow and his wife Patricia A. of Chelmsford; her daughters: Susan P. McFarland of Nantucket and her significant other, Raymond D. Trudell of Arlington, Denise P. Roser and her husband, Robert F. of Williamsburg, Virginia; three grandchildren: Kelly M. Stratman and her husband, Stephen, Michael D. Parow, and William W. Parow; and three great-grandchildren: Ella M. Stratman, Emery J. Stratman, and Kayla J. Parow.
Her funeral Mass will be held at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading, on Thursday, August 29 at 11 a.m.; the family will receive visitors prior to the Mass at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Helen’s memory to: Compassus Hospice of North Andover, 790 Turnpike Street, Suite 202, North Andover, MA 01845. Arrangements by Croswell Funeral Home, North Reading. To leave an online message of condolence, visit www.croswellfuneralhome.com.
