Helen Ann (Cody) Sawyer, 82, Co-Founded Plaistow’s Kimi Nichols Development Center

Helen Ann (Cody) Sawyer, 82, formerly of Plaistow, N.H., passed away on September 10 surrounded by her loving family.

Born on April 10, 1936 in Dorchester, she was the fourth of the five very closely-knit Cody sisters, Jean Curtis, Dorothy Morrison, Barbara Campbell and Ruth Ryan. She grew up in Roxbury and her first job was as a telephone operator before she dedicated her life to raising her family. After moving to Plaistow, N.H., Sawyer helped found the Kimi Nichols Development Center (KNC), a rehabilitative center that serves individuals with multiple handicaps. Throughout her life she continued to support KNC, including running a bingo for many years to raise money for the center. She had a special bond with her daughter, Helen Marie Sawyer, who attended KNC for the majority of her life.

When she wasn’t taking care of her daughter, Sawyer enjoyed making puzzles, traveling and planning adventures with her sisters and grandchildren. She will be especially remembered for her love of the holidays, in particular, Halloween.

She was pre-deceased by her husband, Guy L. Sawyer; her daughter, Helen M. Sawyer, and her grandson Jon Nathaniel Councilman, granddaughter Molly M. Perin and her sister Jean Curtis. She will be fondly remembered by countless people, including her children, Shawn L. Sawyer, Joanne Jones, Guy P. Sawyer and his wife Margaret, Janine M. Sawyer-Standley and Rebecca S. and her husband Michael Tirabassi, her 23 grandchildren, Matthew Sawyer, Meaghan Kinzle, Cody Sawyer, Kahleigh Travis, Sydney Demestihas, Shaehmus Sawyer, Shawn Sawyer, Jean Truland, Christopher Sawyer, Guy Fletcher Sawyer, Thomas Sawyer, Jennifer Wamboldt, Stephen Councilman, Jakub Councilman, Kyle Councilman, Kiara Burnham, Samuel Sawyer-Standley, Ryan Sawyer-Standley, Michael Tirabassi, Sawyer Tirabassi, Alexander Tirabassi, Isabella Tirabassi and Nathaniel Tirabassi, as well as 29 great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her calling hours on Friday, Sept. 14 from 5-8 p.m. at the H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Home, 106 Summer St., Haverhill. Her funeral will be held on Saturday, Sept. 15 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Anne’s Church, 26 Emerson Ave., Hampstead, N.H. Burial will be in the Atkinson Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Kimi Nichols Development Center, Inc. 17 East Road, Plaistow, N.H. 03865. (www.kiminicholscenter.org)