St. James the Greater parishioner recognized by National Council of Catholic Women

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Graham Helsby

June 13, 1948 ~ July 5, 2024

Graham Helsby, 76, passed away peacefully at home in Draper on July 5, 2024 due to the effects of Parkinson’s disease and a sudden decline in health following a fall.

Graham was born in Cheshire, England on June 13, 1948 to Kenneth and Clarice Helsby. He attended Woolston County Primary and Secondary Schools, followed by Stretford Technical School, where he graduated with a certificate in engineering. He accepted a position at Burroughs Corporation, later Unisys, where he worked first in Farnborough, England and then in Flemington, New Jersey and finally in Salt Lake City until 2003.

In April 1971 Graham married his beloved wife Angela (nee Mahoney). They were truly partners in life, utterly devoted to each other and madly in love until the night they were parted by his death.

As a devout Catholic, Graham was honored to serve as the Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council 6966 at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Sandy from 1992 to 1994, and then as Charter Grand Knight of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Council 12181 at Saint John the Baptist Parish in Draper from 1998 to 2000. He also served on the building committee for Saint John the Baptist. He was especially fond of the bells installed at the church and proud of his service to the parish.

What Graham loved most, though, was his family. He was a devoted and loving husband and a patient, affectionate and gentle father. He was the proud Grandad to three grandsons whom he loved with all his heart, and he enjoyed every moment spent with them. There was no place in the world Graham would rather be than at home with Angela by his side, watching his children and grandchildren thriving, and he was very proud of them all.

Graham is survived by his wife Angela; his daughter Elizabeth (Jared Williams); son James (Katherine); grandsons Charles, Jonathan and Thomas; his sister Linsay Jennings (Vernon); and niece Lucy Wood (Tom). He was preceded in death by his parents and nephew Frazer.

A celebration of life and funeral Mass will be announced at a later date and will be arranged by Starks Funeral Parlor; visit www.Starksfuneral.com for service details and to share photos and memories with Graham’s family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org, or Catholic Community Services of Utah. To remember Graham, please take your children or grandchildren fishing.