RALEIGH - Helen Elizabeth Wright, 80, died Tuesday, March 1, 2011. A Funeral Mass will be said at 12:30 p.m. today (Saturday, March 5) at the Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi, 11401 Leesville Road, Raleigh. Entombment will follow at Raleigh Memorial Park Mausoleum.

She was born in McMinn County, Tenn., the second of three daughters of the late James Walter Vestal and Annie Josephine Guinn Vestal. She attended college at Tennessee Wesleyan in Athens, Tenn., where she studied music and English. After graduating, she got a job as secretary for a gas company and later was employed with the Federal Government as site secretary on Plum Island, N.Y.

Surviving: children, Melissa (Mark) Lynch of Clermont, Fla., John (Alice) Wright of Raleigh, Annette (Steve) Stallings of Bunn and Joseph (Maylean) Wright of Mauldin, S.C.; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. James Wright.

Flowers or plants are appreciated; however, contributions may be made to the Parkinson Disease Foundation at www.pdf.org or the American Parkinson’s Disease Foundation at www.Apdaparkinson.org and then selecting memorial donations.

Arrangements by Mitchell Funeral Home. Condolences to the family at www.MitchellatRMP.com.