Helen (Triouleyre) Rancher

Mrs. Helen Triouleyre Rancher died peacefully in her home surrounded by family on Monday, January 28, 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the age of 71.  Although Helen was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2010, she refused to allow it to dictate or consume her life, choosing instead to live abundantly with compassion and joy.

Helen will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Wayne; and their children, Todd (Jenise) and Scott (Caitlin); her two grandchildren, Betty and Ily; and her brother, Damien Triouleyre. She will also be forever fondly remembered by her extended family and dear friends. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Maurice and Gertrude Triouleyre.

Helen was born on December 24, 1947 in Springfield, MA to Maurice and Gertrude Triouleyre, A New England native and avid Red Sox fan, she never forgot her roots and would not hesitate to extoll anyone on the splendor of Massachusetts.

From an early age Helen felt drawn to children and discovered she possessed a natural aptitude for working with high-risk children and their families; this led her to pursue a life-long career in pediatric nursing.

Helen received her Registered Nurse training at Children’s Hospital in Boston, graduating in 1971. She worked at several New England hospitals, including Newington Children’s, and Leonard Morse, before graduating from Curry College in 1983 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.

In 1980 Helen’s life forever changed when she met her match in Wayne Rancher. After a two-year long-distance courtship, Helen uprooted her life in New England to be with Wayne in the Land of Enchantment. Helen loved her new home in New Mexico, especially the historic sites of Santa Fe, Taos, Los Alamos, the Trinity Test Site, and Native American Pueblos; she delighted in visiting several uniquely New Mexico locations like: White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, the Jemez red cliffs, the beautiful mountains, high plains, and deserts.

After moving to Albuquerque, Helen began working in the pediatric unit at Lovelace Hospital. In 1990, Helen changed from the hospital setting to the University of New Mexico Hospital’s Center for Development and Disability where she continued to follow her passion of working with children as a Nurse Case Manager for the State’s Medically Fragile Children’s Program.  She retired after 40 years of nursing in 2010 shortly after her cancer diagnosis.

Wayne remembers Helen as a loving, dynamic force of nature. She was his best friend, partner, and soul mate.  As individuals, they epitomized “opposites attract”: he a native New Mexican born to a military family that traveled all around the USA and overseas, she born and raised in the same house in Longmeadow, MA until she graduated high school. He was quiet and introverted while she was outgoing and loquacious. Their respective strengths complimented one another and together they shared many adventures. They hiked the Grand Canyon, visited the UK and Italy, took road trips to see Antebellum homes along the Mississippi River, New Orleans, LA, kayaked the waters in Key West, FL and found time to raise their two sons, Todd and Scott.  After retirement, their shared love of travel took them all over the country from San Francisco wine country, Boston, Washington DC, the Gulf coast, and hill country of Texas.

Her sons, Todd and Scott, will remember her as an engaged participant in their lives. Helen eagerly joined in her sons’ extracurricular activities: she was a Cub Scout den leader and Boy Scout companion, accompanied numerous school field trips, chaperoned church youth group mission trips and church lock-ins, and even stepped in as nurse for their high school soccer team.  Helen raised her sons to be kind, valuing empathy and compassion towards others, and hard-working, never shying away from responsibility or playing in the mud.

Helen was an accomplished and ever-humble artist. She called painting and working with clay her “therapy.” She excelled in landscape oil paintings, soulfully capturing the places she visited around the world.

She was an active and dedicated member of Covenant Presbyterian Church and served in many capacities as an elder, deacon, parish visitor and youth leader. She also sang alto in the church choir.

Helen found it easy to cultivate meaningful relationships with all people regardless of cultural differences or age. She was one of those unique individuals who could make you feel valued and understood without conditions or expectations. She effortlessly fostered lasting friendships and an expansive network of friends-made-family that will persist long after her death.

The family would like to thank the countless doctors, nurses, and hospital staff for their dedication and care.

A Memorial Service and celebration of Helen’s life will occur on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 3:00 pm, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria Rd. NE in Albuquerque, NM.  All are welcome to attend and share remembrances and stories. The Memorial Service will be live-streamed at https://www.facebook.com/covpresnm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Trudy Fund for Youth at Covenant Presbyterian Church; for more information contact Chris Deslauriers at 505-299-3621.