Helen Eva Hansen Holmes

Our dear Helen Eva Abrahamian Holmes went home to the Lord on December 15, 2021 with her sons at her side. She is in her healthy new body now and could probably only be happier if she has found that heaven has a roller-skating rink.

Helen Eva was born in Jamestown, North Dakota on July 7, 1932 to Melkon Abrahamian of Van, Armenia (now Turkey) and Khatoun Bargamian of Palu, Turkish Armenia - a survivor of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

Helen graduated from Jamestown High School in 1950 and moved to Seattle, WA to work in post-WWII Boeing Corp. She met her future husband, Blann Holmes, at, you guessed it, a roller-skating rink. They were married in 1955 and made their home in Seattle.

After raising their two sons, Helen returned to work as secretary to the Captain of Seattle Police Dept’s North Precinct until her retirement. To be near her mother, Helen gained employment at the nursing home where her mother resided. Her caring heart was evidenced early on when she was employed at the Depuy-Sorkness Clinic in Jamestown as a young adult.

Helen loved fashion and had a fun, enviable wardrobe. She helped friends with Apparel & Accessories showrooms during trade shows at the Dallas Market Center. We’re pretty sure she had some Go-Go boots in her closet. She was a happy companion on Valley City shopping trips with her dear friend, Lucia Steinmetz.

Helen was always on the move - she water-skied, roller-skated, and enjoyed taking walks. She spent months at a time driving across America to see friends & family from Florida to Texas, Arizona to Missouri. Her best trip abroad was in 2013 traveling to Armenia when she and grandson Christian joined a home-building team with Fuller Center for Housing. She was able to light candles for her parents at Etchmiadzin Cathedral (the Mother Church) in Armenia.

When Helen retired from driving, she first chose Greyhound Bus Lines as her chauffeur then moved onto Amtrak. Helen especially enjoyed dressing up for meals in the dining car. Her favorite co-conspirator in adventure was her sister, Margaret.

Helen was clever, her correspondence was full of wit, she was everyone’s favorite at gatherings - always ready with a humorous quip. She stayed informed on world events and could engage almost any topic in conversation. Even when she started to forget, she still had us smiling with her bright words.

Helen always found the local Presbyterian Church when she traveled and enjoyed Armenian Orthodox services when possible even if the Armenian language of the church was different than her own Western Armenian. Christ was in her heart, and she drew great strength from Him throughout her life.

She is survived by her sons Thomas and David (Kim) both of Seattle, WA; grandchildren Tom, Sarah, Lisa, Janelle, Evan, Austin, Chase, Travis, Jordan, and Luke; 15 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Viola Reimers, Jamestown, and Catherine (Daniel) Igielski, Auburn, WA.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Hovanes and Tom; sisters Martha, Alice, Susie (Mary Ann) and Margaret; husbands Blann Holmes and Harry Hansen.

A graveside memorial for our beloved Helen Eva will be held at Highland Home, Jamestown, ND in the Summer 2022.

Should you be inspired, memorial donations may be made to the Fuller Center for Housing (Memo line: Armenia); PO Box 523, Americus, GA 31709

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Evergreen-Washelli.com for the Hansen Holmes family.