Helen Faye (Harlan) Blackmer - , RI

(08/18/15) Cumberland – Helen Faye (Harlan) Blackmer, 91, passed peacefully on August 9th, in the Cumberland house she called home for almost fifty years – surrounded by her adoring family, and the love of her neighbors, parish, and many friends. Helen, born and raised on a farm in Fairfield, Illinois, was the eldest of four sisters and a brother. Though she eventually lived in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Helen never lost touch with her Midwestern “Harlan roots”, which she always referenced with a bright smile. Helen met the love her life, D. Wayne Blackmer, on her first plane ride. He was her pilot. After sharing their first flight, they fell in love and were married. Helen, a homemaker, and Wayne, a business executive, traveled and lived in many places, where Helen made life-long friends. The Blackmers eventually settled in Rhode Island to raise their three children. Though Wayne passed unexpectedly twenty-five years ago, Helen continued to live a life lead by extraordinary love for her children and grandchildren, who will dearly miss her contagious laughter, inspiring kindness, faithful optimism, and not to go unmentioned, her magical chocolate chip cookies and delectable fudge, the special ingredient of which, was none other than love. Helen was a tireless Cumberland volunteer. She contributed to the AARP, Community-Ites, and Helen was a proud member of the Cumberland Garden Club for over forty years. She weeded and watered until her 91st birthday. Helen was also a devout parish member of Arnold Mills United Methodist Church, where she celebrated and shared her strong faith. She will be dearly missed and forever appreciated by her loving daughter Janis (Chris) Corrigan and sons Keith (Hau) Blackmer and David (Lee Ann) Blackmer. She was a beloved “Grammy” to grandchildren Kailyn Corrigan, CJ Corrigan, Emily Blackmer and Jordan Blackmer. She remains in the hearts of surviving sisters Ann (Max) Green, Reta (Preston) Mathews and brother Sid (Jeannie) Harlan as well as her “Rhode Island sister”, Margaret Griffin. She was preceded in death by her sister Betty and brother-in-law Dick Hill, Jean (Clyde) Brown, and her parents Bill and Marie Harlan. Helen will be remembered by her many nieces and nephews, as well as two generations of grand nieces and grand nephews. A Memorial Service to celebrate Helen’s life will be held Saturday, September 19 at 1:00 P.M. at the Arnold Mills United Methodist Church, followed by a reception at the church’s Cargill Hall. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be made to the Wayne & Helen Blackmer Scholarship, Frontier Community College, 2 Frontier Drive, Fairfield, IL 62837 (Attn: Jan Wiles), or the Comprehensive Cancer Center at The Miriam Hospital, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI 02906 (Attn: Holly Ann Palerm0). For Directions and Guest Book, please visit www.bellowsfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Bellows Funeral Chapel, 160 River Road, Lincoln.