Helene A. Backman

Helene “Granny” Anita Theresa (Arnett) Backman peacefully passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at Catholic Memorial Home, surrounded by family and loved ones.

Helene was born in Regina, SK, Canada and lived in Montreal, ON, Prince Albert, SK and Providence, RI, before setting down roots in Rehoboth, MA, with her husband Bradley, where she lived for the next five decades.

Helene married Bradley Austin Backman on June 2, 1955. Together, they enjoyed traveling the world.  Helene always shared stories of her visits to Portugal, Australia, Fiji, Hungary and Sweden, among other global destinations. Helene was proud to have traveled to all 50 U.S. states and all Canadian provinces.

Helene loved spending time with her family and friends. She took great pleasure in entertaining, decorating for holidays, singing and visiting the occasional casino. Helene will be fondly remembered for her impeccable fashion sense and penchant for sequins, rhinestones and animal prints.

Animals and nature were beloved to Helene. She rescued many dogs and fed the wildlife that ventured into her yard. She had a green thumb and was proud of her flourishing garden.  At home, she would often open the windows to appreciate the fresh scent of her pine trees.

Throughout her life, Helene unapologetically forged her own path with determination, grace, and humor, and encouraged her daughter and grandchildren to do the same. She was especially known for honesty and her refusal to keep quiet about her strong views on everything under the sun. Every single person who knew Helene has a humorous memory of a surprising moment when she spoke up. Her fierceness and independent spirit live on today in her family.  

Helene was predeceased by her loving husband, Bradley, and her sister Shirley (Arnett) Medeiros.  She is survived by her brother John Arnett, her daughter Rhonda (Backman) Faria and husband Daniel T. Faria, her grandchildren Lynn A. Faria and wife Kendra Hutchinson, Marc Faria and wife Stacie (Thurman) Faria, Ryan Faria-Holt and husband Michael Holt, her great-grandchildren Austin Faria and Noah Faria, and several nieces and nephews.  She was “Granny” to many of her family’s friends and extended family. 

Helene’s family is deeply grateful to the staff and attendees of Primetime Adult Day Care in Dighton, MA for the friends she made there.  Her family is also deeply indebted to the kind and attentive teams at Catholic Memorial Home and Southcoast VNA Hospice for the compassionate care they provided to Helene. 

Calling hours will be held at J. H. Williams & Co. Funeral Home at 210 Taunton Ave in East Providence, RI on Thursday, September 5 from 4pm-7pm.  A celebration of Helene’s life will be held at 10:30am on Friday, September 6 at J. H. Williams & Co. Funeral Home, followed by burial at Highland Memorial Park located at 1 Rhode Island Ave. in Johnston, RI.  Guests are encouraged to wear sparkling attire, animal prints or both.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in Helene’s memory be made to Primetime Adult Day Care, c/o Trista Tate, 1059 Somerset Ave., Dighton, MA 02715 or Southcoast VNA Hospice.

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