Helen A. (Daniels) Chaves, cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family and her dog Charlie on September 6, 2025.

Born in Brockton on November 23,1934, she was the daughter of Louis J. Daniels and Anne I. (Murphy) Daniels. As the youngest of five sisters affectionately known as the “Daniels sisters”, her passing sadly closes this chapter on a beloved generation of our family. Helen graduated from Brockton High School in 1952. She attended Simmons College earning her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics in 1956, and subsequently graduated with her Masters in Education from Lesley College in 1996. Helen taught Home Economics at Silver Lake Regional Middle School for over 25 years, retiring in 2000. She always felt the life skills she was able to impart to her students in cooking and sewing were important ones. As she would always remark, both tasks involved the teaching of math skills, and cooking was based in science.

Helen met the love of her life, Raymond Chaves, in 1952 while they both were commuting to Boston for college.Helen and Ray were very blessed to have enjoyed 67 wonderful years of marriage. They were married in Brockton on July 22, 1956 After briefly settling in West Bridgewater, they moved and put down roots in Kingston in 1957. Here they raised their children; Susan, Joe, Gregory and Beth. Helen was an early member and officer of the Kingston Mothers’ Club. As a newcomer to town it was within this group where she met many of her lifelong friends and her best friend for over 65 years, Dolores Tura. She also served on the 4-H Town Committee and in her later years on the Kingston Historical Commission. Helen was a past member of the Kingston Garden Club and participated in programs at the Kingston Senior Center, with Bingo being one of her favorites. For many years Helen was a fixture at various area Bingos, Friday nights at Sacred Heart High School, and other nights she could be found at the Union Grove Club and the Kingston Knights of Columbus. She very much enjoyed playing and spending time with her bingo friends.

Helen maintained a close relationship with her sisters. Annual trips to Nantucket with her sister Katharine, as well as traveling more broadly with her sister Margaret, including several trips to Ireland. The Daniels sisters would also frequently gather for lunch at Christo’s Restaurant in Brockton. They would take turns hosting yearly holiday get-togethers as a way for the sisters and their families to stay connected. Helen was fortunate to be able to maintain a lifelong closeness with her nieces and nephews. A bond she truly loved and valued.

Helen enjoyed traveling with her husband, especially their trips to Alaska and to Las Vegas. She enjoyed shopping and had a keen eye for quality items especially purses and jewelry which she would often pass on to her friends or grandchildren as was her generous nature. We are sure Talbot’s in Duxbury and Brighton handbags will also miss her terribly. She took great pleasure in giving the people she loved meaningful gifts and ones they could remember her by.

Family was the absolute cornerstone of Helen’s life. She loved her family immensely and in turn was adored and treasured by them. At the drop of a hat if word of any need went out she would have 20+ people at her house and a slew of cars parked haphazardly in her yard in under 15 minutes. Helen gave each member of her family the gifts of her unconditional love, time, and attention. As her family grew many great memories were made, from family trips, to the everyday constant support and encouragement to her children in their interests and activities. Later large multi-generational family trips, some overseas, holidays, birthdays, and every important family event spent together, leave many great memories behind. Weekly “Monday Night Dinner” at her house was an entire family gathering for over 30 years attended by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and daughter in law. Monday nights were a priority in everyone’s schedule and if you weren’t in attendance or tardy you would likely get a phone call from her to find out where you were. She loved to see her family and all the generations together, and she never took it for granted. She leaves as her legacy a large, close knit family that grew out of her unwavering love and support. This was her pride and joy.

Helen leaves behind her children, Susan Kaye of Kingston, Gregory Chaves of Plympton, Elizabeth Williams and her husband Greg of Plympton, and her daughter in law Mary-Ellen Chaves of Kingston. She is also survived by her sister in law Dorothy Caramanica of Bridgewater, and brother in law Denis Gillen of Safety Harbor, FL., as well as many treasured nieces and nephews. Also sharing in grief are her eleven grandchildren, Michelle, Erika, Kathleen, Brian, Erin, Sarah, Caitlin, Emily, Olivia, Colin and Danielle; 10 great-grandchildren, Liam, Natalie, Amelia, Ella, Cameron, Wesley, Owen, Josie, Nathan, Avery and baby Caledonia, expected in January. She was predeceased by her husband Raymond R. Chaves, her son Joseph L. Chaves, and 4 sisters, Margaret Kerr, Katharine Arms, Mary Currie, and Isabel Comerford.

Visiting hours will be held at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 216 Main St, Kingston, MA on Tuesday, September 16th from 4:00-7:00 pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 17th at 10:00 am at St. Joseph’s Church, 272 Main St, Kingston. Internment will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery, Green St. Kingston. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Joseph L. Chaves Memorial Scholarship Fund. Check donations can be mailed to 1 Redcoat Lane, Kingston. MA. 02364 and Venmo donations can be made to @Caitlin-Chaves.