Helen C. (Costello-Taylor) Chapulis, 89, passed peacefully on Sunday, January 10, with her family at her side. She was born December 24, 1931, in Boston, Mass., to Helen and Joseph Taylor.
Being born on Christmas Eve, Helen loved everything to do with Christmas, especially her extensive ornament collection and tree. She cherished her Christmas tree, took pride in its wonder and made an annual event of setting it up and spending hours decorating it. She also enjoyed collecting porcelain dolls, teddy bears, Victorian-era antiques, brides’ baskets, paintings of Victorian ladies, various items in which she found beauty and objects she could share with children as they were growing up. She always found joy from the children in her life and loved sharing trinkets and treats with them all. Helen especially enjoyed her Chanel No. 5 perfume and dressing up to go out and enjoy a meal with family and friends. She was active in the Terryville community, one which she and her husband Peter made their home for more than 40 years. She would go door to door each year collecting donations for the Plymouth Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
Helen also worked during election times and spent the entire day tending to electoral duties at the East Main Street School. She was instrumental in the fundraising auctions organized and held for the youth ministry group of the Immaculate Conception Church (Terryville), a parish of which she was a longtime member. She and Tim spent many a Halloween, in the center of Litchfield, giving away giant candy bars to all the children celebrating the holiday. They would stand in front of The Village Restaurant so that Helen could enjoy all of the children’s excitement, costumes and visits. As a thank you for the treats, many would respond with a dance, joke or skit; of which Helen enjoyed every single one with smiles and laughter. She was both the vice president and secretary of the family-run business, Tim’s Inc. Auctions. She would be at every auction, from beginning to end, and well after that. She would greet everyone with a warm welcome and tend to people’s needs for signing in, checking out and answering inquiries with her wealth of antique and auction knowledge. She knew attendees’ names, including their family members and especially their children. She had a smile for all and wasn’t shy about welcoming patrons with her donation jar for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in memory of Peter W. Chapulis. In exchange for adding to it, a smiley face sticker was always granted. Tim and the business will continue the tradition and now collect donations for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in memory of both Peter W. and Helen C. Chapulis.
Helen loved nature, flowers, the beach and bird watching. She enjoyed all of the animals and wildlife that would come to visit their yard in Litchfield including turkeys, bears, bobcats and deer. She loved going to the casino, especially when she could take her chances at the Wheel of Fortune game. Helen enjoyed special celebrations at the Red Lion Inn and time on Cape Cod during the summer months.
She was predeceased by her loving husband, Peter W. Chapulis, in 2005. They were married on July 27, 1957 and spent 48 wonderful years together. Helen was predeceased by her brother John Taylor, who gave his life in the Korean War following his time as a P.O.W. She was also predeceased by her cousins John O’Shea (wife Ann) and Michael A. O’Shea and her longtime friends Mary Coulouris and Sandra Gravlin. Helen leaves behind her son, Timothy J. Chapulis, of Litchfield, Conn.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to her personal physician, Dr Margaret Rush, from Bristol, Conn. The Scott Funeral Home of Terryville, CT will be assisting Helen’s family with arrangements (scottfuneralhomeinc.com). A memorial service will be announced and held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, in memory of Helen C. Chapulis, to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).
-Submitted by the family
