Helen McBride, 89, of Stuart, Florida, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2026, following a stroke. Born on September 11, 1936, in Cohoes, New York, Helen led a life defined by service, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to her community.

In 1973, Helen and her husband, Bob McBride, moved to Stuart with their two children, Robin and John. It was there that Helen found her purpose. Passionate about preserving Stuart's small-town charm, she became an unwavering advocate for responsible growth and active citizen participation, rarely missing a County Commissioner meeting for more than five decades. Her voice was one of reason, heart, and dedication to the people of Stuart.

While her children were young, Helen worked at Parker Elementary School collecting lunch money, later serving as PTO President where she successfully fought for the installation of air conditioning at the school. She also served proudly as a Crime Watch President and was an energetic supporter of the Martin County Sheriff's Department, part of the original "Crowder Crew" supporting Sheriff Bob Crowder.

Helen's life was marked by her generosity and drive to make a difference. She worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant, specializing in Alzheimer's care for several years. Helen fought for Martin County High School to establish a women's soccer team—an effort that succeeded thanks to her persistence. Later in life, she served on the Stuart Independent Review Board, promoting transparency and ethical government under the Sunshine Amendment.

Helen was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bob McBride, and is survived by her daughter, Robin McBride Pence, her son, John McBride, along with her daughter-in-law, Silvia McBride.

Her pride and joy were her grandsons, Brennan McBride, Grayson Pence and Joseph McBride. She was a devoted grandmother whose warmth, guidance, and unwavering love will forever remain in their hearts.

Helen is survived by her siblings, located in the Albany, New York area, Jean (Bob) Moran, Carol (Tom) Dooley, Barbara (John) Guzy and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her three siblings, James (Grace) Brennan, Esther (George) Cundiff and Mary (Albert) Abdelnour.

Helen's kindness, and outgoing personality will be sorely missed by all who knew her!

A celebration of Helen's life will be held on March 28, 2026, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the 10th Street Community Center at 724 SE 10th Street in Stuart.

During the celebration, memorial donations may be made to The Council on Aging of Martin County at the Kane Center.

Donations can also be made to The Council on Aging in Helen McBride's honor at: https://coamartin.org/foundation/donate-today