Helen was born on June 7, 1928, in Drayton, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Hazel May Cadwell (née Perkin) and James Henry Cadwell, and the beloved sister of Audrey Minetta Thicke (deceased).

Helen was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, John “Jack” Pearson, who passed away in 2022. Also preceding her in death was her beloved grandson, Andrew Michael Pearson.

Surviving her are their three children: Catharine Anne Brabandt (Robert) of Lexington; John Michael (Kaleena) of New Jersey/Florida; and Donald Eric (Katie) of Colorado. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Morgan, William, Timothy, Parker, Trevor, Elizabeth and Owen.

Helen and Jack retired to Lexington in 1989 and lived in the Providence Hill section of the city. In 2018, they moved to Kendal at Lexington. Helen had a strong Christian faith and for many years worked as a Presbyterian Christian education director, a youth club director as well as a nursery school and Sunday school teacher. She was most recently a member of New Providence Presbyterian Church in Brownsburg and also enjoyed attending services and events at Grace Presbyterian Church in Lexington. Family was of paramount importance to Helen, and she was extremely proud of her children and grandchildren.

Apart from serving as an elder and deacon of her church over the span of her life, service to other organizations highlighted Helen’s retirement years. She was president of the Lexington Women’s Club on three separate occasions and spearheaded the creation of an International Dinner for foreign students attending Washington and Lee University, Virginia Military Institute as well as foreign exchange students attending our local high schools. This dinner is still a highlight after more than 30 years. Helen was honored to be named Volunteer of the Year here in Lexington, held many offices in her beloved Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O., an international organization which raises money for women’s education), volunteered at Rockbridge Regional Library, and tutored elementary school children through Waddell School. Helen also enjoyed doing cross-stitch for which she won many awards, knitting, reading, genealogy as well as jigsaw puzzles and board games. Summers, until recently, were spent at the family’s beloved cottage at Fairy Lake in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada.

A service of praise and celebration was held at Kendal at Lexington on Friday, June 20, at

2 p.m. In lieu of flowers or other honoraria, please direct gifts to the Lexington Woman’s Club, a 501(c)(3) organization, at P.O. Box 206, Lexington, VA 24450.

Arrangements were handled by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory. NG