Helen Bland was born on October 25, 1938, in Urmia, Iran, to the late Benjamin Bit-Shamoon (from the Village of Digala) and Hanna Pera (from the Village of Mar Nokha). Later, the family moved to Tehran. 

In 1959, Helen went to England to study nursing, which is where she met her future husband, Brian, who was a patient in the Hospital. Helen went on to obtain her RN and then her Midwife License. After dating for 8 years, Helen and Brian married in 1968 and had two sons, Antony and Andrew. In 1976, they immigrated to America where Helen had many relatives. Helen continued her nursing career at Modesto City Hospital until 1984 when she and Brian purchased NuWay Cleaners. Brian and Helen were married for 53 years. 

Helen spoke several languages, including English, Assyrian, Turkish and Farsi. 

Helen was preceded in passing by her parents; her brothers, Milis Bit-Shamoon and Calo Bit-Shamoon; and her sisters, Lily Weber and Nellie Yohannan. She is survived by her husband, Brian; her son, Antony; her son, Andrew, his wife Kristi and their children, Tanner and Ivy; her sister-in-law, Lilyosa Bit-Shamoon; her nephew, Atour Bit-Shamoon; her niece, Sharokina, her husband, Peter Kiryakos, and their children; her nephew, Jason, his wife, Denise Yohannan, and their children; and her cousin, Donald, his wife, Cici Marelia, and their children. 

Helen passed away peacefully in the arms of her husband, Brian, and her son, Antony, on December 27, 2020, in Modesto, CA. 

The family would like to thank Helen’s great friends, Andrea and Les Pickering, for always being there for her. 

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 13, 2020, at Turlock Funeral Home, 425 N. Soderquist Rd., Turlock. Following the service, Helen will be laid to rest at Turlock Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Community Hospice at give.hospiceheart.org, or Modesto Symphony Orchestra at modestosymphony.org.