Marion Evangeline (Cheever) Helwig, 99, of West Warwick, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Born in Allentown, PA on July 15, 1924, she was the daughter of the late James Wilbur “Bill” Cheever and Katherine “Kate” (Koster) Cheever.

She is survived by her beloved children Gretchen H. Hanley (Stephen M.), Lisa Helwig-Payne, Chrysa Helwig, and John N. Helwig (Donna) plus six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins all over the US.

She was the sister of the late Virginia Cheever, James Cheever, Margaret Downes, Paul Cheever, and Sarah Cheever.

Wherever her father’s jobs took him as a construction foreman the growing family followed. At age 4, Mom enrolled in a one-room schoolhouse in Missouri. Other government projects sent them to live in Tennessee, several towns in Texas, Maryland, Michigan, and lastly Rhode Island. She graduated from East Greenwich Academy at age 16. Mom later earned certification from the Edgewood Business School around 1941. Then WWII came. Through her father’s intervention Mom secured a job, possibly in payroll, at Quonset. Dockworkers wanted to be paid in cash only. So, between 2 military policemen she would deliver the payroll each week. Mom was only 17 at the time! After the war Mom worked at URI in the office of a science building on the quad. She met Jack Helwig while he was a student on the GI Bill. They married in 1949, which resulted in 4 children from 1951-1958. When John the youngest turned three, Mom secured a job as executive secretary to the plant manager at the Swiss-owned Geigy Chemical Company which later became Ciba-Geigy. Ciba-Geigy was good to Mom; she trained as an editor/photographer and became the first in-house editor of the company newsletter.

All through one particularly ugly strike, Mom filmed behind shaded windows the destruction some union workers did to cars, etc. Unfortunately, the Cranston location was forced out, leaving hundreds of people without jobs. In anticipation of closing within 2 years, Ciba-Geigy had offered retraining to all workers. Mom decided to retire when Ciba-Geigy finally closed its doors. Not one to remain idle, Mom joined a tennis club, volunteered for Audubon & the Wild Plant Society, and trained to be a Master Gardener through URI’s program. In her 70’s, Mom joined the East Greenwich Historic Preservation Society, eventually serving as president for 12 years. Often called the “old jail” & located at the corner of King & Water Streets it is purported to be haunted!

Her Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday April 9, 2024 at 11:00AM at THE URQUHART-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME, 800 Greenwich Avenue, Warwick. Visitation will be held prior to the Service from 9:00AM-11:00AM. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
Kent Hospital Foundation c/o Kent Hospital,
Philanthropy Building 2, 171 Service Avenue, Suite 310
Warwick, RI 02886 or East Greenwich Historic Preservation Society c/o EGHPS, P. O. Box 302, East Greenwich, RI 02818.

 

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