Mary Janette Helman Hoskin

Mary Janette Helman Hoskin of Tolland, Connecticut passed away on November 25, 2025, after a year-long fight with appendiceal cancer. She was born in Norwalk, Ohio on December 10, 1948, and was adopted by her parents Richard and Betty Helman of Willard, Ohio. She and her sister, Ruthanne McGookey, spent all of their childhood in Willard, Ohio enjoying many of the benefits of growing up in a small town.

Mary leaves behind her husband Rob Hoskin whom she met in eighth grade. They started dating as sophomores in high school and got married at age 20. They enjoyed 56 years of married life. She and Rob raised four fantastic children: Julie (Chris Rowe), Sarah (Derek Weston), Emily (Blake Hueske) and Clark (Justine Diedtrich). They also were proud grandparents of ten wonderful grandchildren: Cameron, Georgia and Jackson Rowe; Quinn, Shelby and Hanna Weston; Tate and Etta Hueske; and Colin and James Hoskin. It is a gross understatement to say that her children and grandchildren were central to her throughout her life.

Mary graduated from The Ohio State University in 1971 as a teacher with majors in theater and English. Upon graduation she taught high school in Willard Ohio for two years until her firstborn, Julie came along. One of her passions in life started the year Julie was born when she and a friend established a La Leche League (LLL) support group in their small town. The passion to help others with their breastfeeding journey led her to become a leader in the larger organization of La Leche League International, eventually leading her to become the Director of the Eastern Division of La Leche League in the United States.

Another passion of Mary’s was her love of theater. Having participated in many plays and musicals throughout high school and then with her degree in technical theater she became intimately involved in designing and building sets for various musicals at the high school in Tolland (and later Wethersfield) as well as summer shows run by the town of Tolland. In these she interacted with many high school students, and she became known as “Mama Hosk” or just plain “Mama” to these kids.

In her later years, her love of art and music led her to become involved as a board member with the Arts of Tolland which provided a venue for artists and musicians to display their craft at the Art Center building in Tolland. Eventually, she became the president of this group, a role that she assumed for more than twenty years.

Another passion was her love of gardening, particularly flowering plants. She also combined her love of music by planting a bed of hosta that each had the name of some songs like “All That Jazz”. She shared cuttings from her plants with many other people. She never saw a plant sale that she didn’t like.

Needless to say, Mary will be missed by many friends and most deeply by her husband and family. A celebration of her life is being planned by her husband and kids during the Christmas holidays. In lieu of flowers or other recognition of her passing the family requests that you donate to your favorite charitable cause in her name.