Helen Jean (McCabe) Bidgood, of Melrose, died on Saturday, November 15, 2008 at the Winchester Hospital in Winchester, MA. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Aug. 30, 1921, to the late George & Mary (Price) McCabe, she was raised in Flint, Michigan and graduated from Catholic Central High School and the Catholic University of Washington, D. C. with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. Mrs. Bidgood worked as a Registered Nurse at various hospitals throughout her 50-year career. She served in the Army Nurse Corp 101st General Hospital in England & Germany during WWII. As a Melrose resident since 1970, she taught CCD at the Church of the Incarnation of Melrose, St. Joseph's Church of Malden and was an Eucharistic Minster, who would bring the Eucharist to area hospitals for the St. Mary's Church of Melrose. She was also active with Catholic Daughters and a substitute nurse at the junior & Senior High Schools of Melrose for many years. Helen enjoyed camping in Vermont and traveling. She was the devoted wife of William J. Bidgood with whom she shared 56 years of marriage. She was the loving mother of Mary M. Bidgood-Wilson & her husband Kenneth of Moultonboro, NH, Wm. John Bidgood, Jr. & his wife Maureen of Melrose, Elizabeth A. Curnane & her husband Joseph of Melrose, Paul F. Bidgood & his wife Patricia of W. Boylston, James B. Bidgood of Melrose, Peter D. Bidgood & his wife Lorraine of Melrose, Andrew M. Bidgood & his wife Allison of Atkinson, NH & George M. Bidgood & his wife Kerri of Melrose. Cherished grandmother of Kimberlie Mohan & her husband Patrick, Bradley Wilson & his wife Lisa, Brett Robert Wilson, Gregory & Colleen Bidgood, Jennifer & Jay Riley, Rachel, Paul, Jr. & Sarah Bidgood, Pauline & James, Jr. Bidgood, Mary Bidgood, Dean, Evan 7 Julia Bidgood, George, Jr., Kate, Megan & Kimberly Bidgood & great grandmother of Patrick Joseph Mohan, III & Kaitlyn Elizabeth Wilson. Caring sister of Barbara Thompson & her late husband Raymond of Grand Rapids, Michigan & the late Dorothy Vandallen & Elizabeth McCormick. Also survived by many nieces, nephews & cousins. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Tues. Nov. 18th at 9AM. Funeral Mass in Most Blessed Sacrament Church 1155 Main St., Wakefield at 10AM. Family & friends respectfully invited. Visiting hours Mon. 2-4 & 6-8PM. Interment in Proctorsville Cemetery, Cavendish, VT on Wed. Nov. 19th at Noon. Arrangements by The Gately Funeral Home of Melrose. Memorial contributions in Helen's name may be made to Catholic University's School of Nursing 620 Michigan Ave. Washington, D.C. 20064 or Winchester Hospital's Magnet Nurses Charitable Fund 41 Highland Ave. Winchester, MA 01890. For directions or to sign guest book, please visit www.gatelyfh.com