Helen Annie (Slack) Klufts, 97, passed away peacefully surrounded by family May 1, 2016 at the Rockingham County Nursing Home in Brentwood, N.H. Born on October 19, 1918 in Methuen, she was the daughter of the late Thomas J. and Mary Etta (Callahan) Slack, and the widow of John A. Klufts who predeceased her in 2001.

One of six children, Helen grew up in Methuen, where she resided for many years before moving to Exeter, N.H. in 1984. A graduate of MacIntosh Business School in Lawrence, she was formerly employed at Cherry and Webb in Lawrence, Monamack Mill in Methuen, and the Bolta Division of General Tire and Rubber in Lawrence, before retiring from Watts Regulator in Lawrence.

Always very involved in her community, she was a member of St. Monica Parish in Methuen where she served as Prefect for the St. Monica Sodality Women’s Group. A past Pocahontas of the Society of Red Men, Helen was also a member of the Civic Club and the Gill Avenue Association, and was a Reunion participant of the Searles High School, Class of 1936.

In Exeter, Helen arranged entertainment for the Exeter Senior Center, and she and John were very involved in the Meals on Wheels Program. They were members of St. Michaels Parish, where for many years Helen had a craft table during the Church Christmas Fair while John worked in the kitchen. She was a member of the Exeter Women’s Group and volunteered with John for many years at the Independence Museum at Gilman House.

Helen and John enjoyed summers at their camp with their children, grandchildren and friends at Province Lake in East Wakefield, N.H. She was very proud to be the great niece of Jeremiah “Scholar Jack” Shea, one of three survivors of the Battleship Maine.

Helen was also predeceased by her sister, Elizabeth Amshey, and her brothers George, Thomas, Kenneth and Albert Slack. She is survived by her son, George Slack and his husband, Seth Welles of Haddonfield, N.J.; three daughters, Mary Lee Lawrence and her husband, Dan of Newburyport, Carol E. Klufts and her wife, Joanna Kennedy of San Leandro, Calif., and Joan T. Goodwin and her partner, John Jacobson of Manchester, N.H.; eight grandchildren, Michael and Daniel Motherway, John Garvin, Robin Garvin, Heather Kennard, Jamie Goodwin, Bethany Fierravanti, and Jeremiah Slack-Welles; 11 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, May 8, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St., Exeter, N.H. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, May 9, at 10 a.m. at St. Michaels Church, 9 Lincoln St., Exeter, N.H. Following a Mercy Meal at the Church, Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen, at 1 p.m. on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Exeter Meals on Wheels Program, 30 Court St., Exeter, NH 03833. For more information, please visit www.brewittfuneralhome.com.