Helen Pantas Hawkins of Rocklin, California, passed away at the age of 98 on May 24, 2021 while convalescing from surgery as a result of a broken hip. Helen was a career Registered Nurse and retired state employee who worked as a student health nurse at CSUS and later as a MediCal fraud investigator until her retirement. She is survived by sons David White of Rocklin and Michael Hawkins of Markleeville, daughter-in-law Elizabeth Hawkins, stepsons Dennis Hawkins, Thomas Hawkins, Stephen Hawkins, Robert Hawkins, Jr. and stepdaughter Deborah Reilly and an extended East Coast family including her sister, Georgia Neydorff of Suffield, CT, and numerous nieces and nephews scattered along the Atlantic seaboard, as well as extended overseas family in Greece and Australia. She is also survived by her grandchildren Michael and Shannon White, and Andrew and Philip Hawkins, all of California. Special mention should be made of Marina Hernandez, her best friend and former co-worker, who visited regularly, often bringing hot meals and fresh flowers in the final year or two of Helen's life.
Helen was born in Amsterdam, NY, the third of six children born to Greek immigrants Anthony and Athena Pantas. After graduating high school, she was awarded a government nursing scholarship at a time when nurses were in critical demand to care for wounded military personnel returning from service in World War II. At the end of the war, she met and ultimately married her first husband, James White, and had three sons: David White, Michael Hawkins (born Michael White, later adopted by second husband Robert Hawkins Sr.) and Richard White, who preceded her in death in 2009. Much of Helen's adult life was spent as a fierce advocate for the rights of developmentally delayed individuals, along with sons David and Michael. Youngest son Richard was developmentally delayed and a resident of Sonoma Developmental Center throughout most of his life. His passing hit her especially hard, but only deepened her resolve to redouble her advocacy for others like him.
Helen loved travel, and explored Europe, the Mediterranean and Australia, discovering several branches of her family tree in these locations. She was an avid music lover and longtime member of The Springtones, a well-known vocal ensemble in the Roseville/Rocklin (California) area.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that contributions in Helen's name be made to VOR, a national non-profit advocacy organization with which she was actively associated for decades on behalf of her son Richard and his fellow residents at Sonoma Developmental Center. VOR's mission is, and has always been, advancing the rights of the intellectually delayed to have the highest quality of life possible (www.vor.net).
Helen's life was a stunning example of service to others. The number of charitable organizations to which she contributed over the course of her lifetime is incalculable. She will be missed but never forgotten!
