Helen Emmie “Pink” (Kivi) Torrance, of Plymouth, 85, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at the Granite VNA Hospice House in Concord, NH, on Monday, June 24. She was the daughter of the late Kaarlo and Emmie (Wainio) Kivi. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, David V. Torrance; daughters Caroline Torrance and Cindy (Torrance) Youngman; son-in-law John F. Youngman Jr.; sister and best friend Marilyn (Kivi) Woolson; and brother Ralph Kivi.
Helen was born on Sep. 23, 1938, in New Bedford. She spoke most fondly of her childhood memories growing up in White Island Shores.
Helen worked both in retail and in the Plymouth-Carver school system, where she loved spending her time with the children at Federal Furnace Elementary School. She retired to begin her many adventures traveling around the world. Proud of being 100 percent Finnish, her travels brought her to Helsinki, Finland. Her love for Elvis Presley brought her to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, along with her “special Finn sister”, Helen Laine.
When at home, Helen enjoyed listening to her records (especially Elvis), cooking, entertaining, and spending summers around her pool with her granddaughters Sarah and Mylee, and great grandson Johnny. Caring for others was truly her passion and calling in life and she would do anything that she could to help her friends and family. Helen also loved animals and gave generously to various animal welfare organizations and would take in and care for any strays that found their way to her doorstep.
Helen is survived by her son, David Torrance and his husband Bruce Twyon of Hopkinton NH; grandchildren Sarah Youngman and Josh Miller of Carver, and Mylee Solari and her husband Edmund of Carver; great grandson Johnny Solari; sister-in-law Judy Kivi; loving nieces Karla Sheehan, Darlene Woolson, Kelly Woolson; and nephew Gerry Woolson, as well as many other nieces, nephews; and her “Finn family” Barbie, Beth and Bobby.
Visiting hours in the Cartmell-Davis Life Celebration Funeral Home 150 Court St., Plymouth, will be held on Monday July 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 9, at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Pilgrimage, Plymouth.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the MSPCA, or a charity that is dear to your heart.