Helen L. (credit) Sickel

Plaistow, NH: Helen L. (Credit) Sickel, 88, a longtime resident of Plaistow and formerly of Haverhill, MA, died on January 10, 2014 at the Port Healthcare Center in Newburyport, MA.

Born, raised, and educated in Haverhill, daughter of the late Arthur and Eva (Phaneuf) Credit, she attemded St. Joseph's School and graduated from Haverhill High School with the Class of 1942.

Mrs. Sickel worked in local shoe firms as a young woman and retired from AT&T Technologies in 1993 after working as an auditor for twenty-five years. She was a member of the former Holy Angels Parish and served as one of the original Eucharist Ministers in 1976. She was also a member of the Communications Workers of America and the Telephone Pioneers of America. She was also a volunteer in the local schools system.

Mrs. Sickel loved cooking and raising her six boys. An avid Red Sox fan, she enjoyed babysitting her grandchildren and playing cards. She was also an accomplished acrobat and dancer. As a young girl, Mrs. Sickel competed in and won many local acrobatic dance competitions. She was an instructor for the late Ruth Parker, and taught roller skating, dance, and gymnastics.

She was predeceased by her husband, Walter F. Sickel, and is survived by six sons, Stephen A. Sickel of Haverhill, Paul J. Sickel and his wife Ellen of Plaistow, Daniel M. Sickel and his wife Midori of Sunrise, FL, Arthur E. Sickel and his wife Marcelle of Atkinson, Matthew J. Sickel and his wife Lisa of Plaistow, and Thomas P. Sickel of Exeter, two step-sons, Walter F. Sickel, Jr. and his wife Janice of Makanda, IL, and Timothy Sickel of Litchfield, ME, a step-daughter, Ruth Emmitt of Belfast,ME, fifteen grandchildren, Lauren Sickel and her wife Sasha, Kadi Sickel, Derek Sickel, Julie Sickel, Chelsea Sickel, Shawn Sickel, Corey Sickel, Aaron Sickel, Courtney Sickel, Austin Sickel, Brady Sickel, Brandi Sickel, MacKenzie Sickel, Halle Sickel, and Jacob Sickel, a great granddaughter, Riley Sickel, a brother, Richard Credit of Seabrook, a sister, Rose Marie Allen of Severan, MD, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her brothers, Henry Credit, Paul Credit, Robert Credit, Arthur Credit and Leo Credit, her sisters, Irene Milot and Jeannette Bourdon, and a step-son Douglas Sickel.

Relatives and friends may call on Thursday, January 16, 2014 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main Street, Route 121A, Plaistow, NH. Her funeral will begin on Friday at 10 a.m. from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at All Saints Church, 120 Bellevue Avenue, Haverhill, MA. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Haverhill. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 480 Pleasant St, Watertown, MA 02472. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website, www.brooksidechapelfh.com.