Wilder, VT - Helen Patricia Petersen Aulis, age 90, died peacefully on May 24 at Valley Terrace in Wilder, VT surrounded by her loving family.

Helen was born at home on December 7, 1926 in Salisbury, VT, a daughter of James and Emma Mayhew Petersen. Helen attended primary school in Salisbury and then graduated from Brandon High School after which she completed nursing training at the Nursing Cadet Corps at Mary Hitchcock Memorial. While in Hanover, NH she met and fell in love with Ralph Aulis of Norwich, VT. Helen and Ralph were married at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Middlebury, VT in 1946 and made their home and raised a family in Norwich. After their children were older, Helen began a fifteen-year career as manager at Shopping International in Norwich. She enjoyed volunteering at the White River Junction Court as guardian ad litem, a program providing special services for children in need in the community. When she and Ralph retired, they moved to her family home in Salisbury where they spent many years restoring the house and caring for her aging father. Later, they returned to the Upper Valley, living for a time in Quechee and later at Sterling Springs in Wilder VT. She had been a resident at Valley Terrace in Wilder since 2013, where she was loved for her generous heart by residents and staff.

Helen was an avid reader and a talented painter of landscapes who enjoyed the outdoors through gardening, camping, canoeing, hiking and in her youth, skiing. Her tastes in music ranged from Mozart to Bob Dylan. Most of all she loved spending time with her family and is remembered as a gracious hostess to family members, particularly her grandchildren, and friends. Her holiday celebrations were legendary.

She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph, in 2011, as well as her brothers James and Max Petersen and her sister, Jacqueline English.

Helen leaves two daughters Patricia Goodman and Maureen Aulis and Patricia's husband David, all of Hanover, NH; a son Christopher Aulis and his wife Sara of Randolph, VT; three grandchildren, Andrew Goodman, Ryan Aulis and Kristen Aulis Cooper; as well as nieces and nephews, Cheryl Brush, Karen Petersen Plank, Mark Petersen, Eric Petersen and several great nieces and nephews.

Her funeral will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Middlebury, VT at 10 AM on June 3 followed by the burial at the Holman Cemetery in Salisbury, Vermont.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Salisbury Historical Society at PO Box 40, Salisbury, VT 05769.