CARMEL -- Helen Mary (Bickford) Swett, 78, passed away peacefully July 23, 2005 at a Bangor health care facility following a long illness. Helen was born in Newburg on April 17, 1927, the daughter of Ulysses S. and Sadie Ellen (Loring) Bickford. In her childhood, she was raised by Lora and Harry Graves of Etna. She attended Carmel High School. Helen married George H. Swett on June 1, 1945, in Carmel. He died in 1998 following 43 years of marriage. She worked at the James Taylor Osteopathic Hospital Nursing Facility for many years. Helen made friends with all the patients and they became part of her extended family. She was a member of the Carmel Senior Citizens, a member of the Carmel/Etna Extension. She was a life member of the John R. Chase Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, in Carmel and then became a member of the Star in the East Chapter, OES, in Hampden following the merger. Helen's favorite times were when she gathered fiddleheads in the spring, berries of all kinds in the summer and apples in the fall. She would then gladly share her bounty with her many friends. Helen is survived by her son and his wife, Kenneth and Gladys Swett of Carmel; three grandchildren, Mathew Swett of Carmel, Shanna and her husband, Doug Towle, of Palmyra, and Nathan Swett of Carmel; and one brother, Sheldon Bickford of Etna. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 25, at Brown Funeral Home, 34 High St., Newport, where a funeral service will be conducted at 1p.m. Tuesday, July 26, with Rev Burt Williams officiating. Burial will be in the family lot at Highland Cemetery, Carmel. Friends and family are welcome to visit at the home of Kenneth and Gladys Sweet following the burial, for a time of remembrance.Friends who wish may make memorial donations to Star in the East, OES, in Hampden, the Carmel Union Church in Carmel, or to the Carmel Senior Citizens in Carmel. The family would like to thank the staff of the Bangor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the wonderful care given to Helen. To sign an online guest book and leave written tributes please visit: www.philipbrown funeralhome.com.