ROCKLAND — Helen E. Vinal, 97, died Aug. 27 at her home in Rockland. She was born Dec. 28, 1915, in East Fairfield, Vt., to Loren and Bessie Leach Potter. She graduated from Crosby High School in Belfast. She met and married her first husband, Richard Gorden. They made their home in Union.

Helen worked at the Union Telephone Company as an operator. She left the telephone company to go to work at Forty Fathoms and later at National Sea Products. She worked as a production line operator. She met and married her second husband, Douglas Vinal, and they made their home in Thomaston. Helen retired from National Sea Products after many years of service. She enjoyed reading, playing cards and dancing.

She was predeceased by her first husband, Richard Gorden; her second husband, Douglas Vinal; her sons, Jenness "Sonny" Gorden and Larry Gorden; two brothers, Amos and Mike Potter; and her sister, Irene Potter Fitzgerald.

She is survived by a daughter, Janice Linscott and her husband, Robert, of Union; her sister-in-law, Madeline Gorden Vincent of Windham; her daughters-in-law, Inez Gorden of Connecticut and Nancy Gorden of Waldoboro; seven grandchildren, Darla Mansfield, Milton Linscott, Rick Linscott, Kim Gillette, Karen Agnew, Lariann Beaucage and Keith Gorden; 11 great-grandchildren; two great great-grandchildren; a nephew; and three nieces.

A graveside service to celebrate Helen's life will be held Friday, Sept. 6, at 2 p.m. at Village Cemetery on Erin Street in Thomaston. The Rev. Robin Honaker will officiate.

Should friends desire, contributions may be made in Helen's memory to Union Ambulance Service or Union Fire Department, P.O. Box 186, Union, ME 04862.

Arrangements are entrusted to Hall's Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Thomaston. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting their Book of Memories page online at the funeral home.