Helen Nix

Helen Lorraine Nix (Austin), 92, of Salt Lake City, passed away peacefully at home on November 27, 2025, of natural causes. Born in Toronto, Canada, on March 19, 1933, she was the daughter of Bertha and Bill Austin.

Helen was married to her beloved husband, Dr. Harold Nix, for 47 years until his passing in 2014. She is survived by her “Dear Ones”: son David and daughter-in-law Paola; cherished grandchildren Maia and Noah, all of Salt Lake City, UT; and daughter Esther of Hartford, NY. She also leaves behind beloved Canadian relatives—nieces Lynne Clark and Mary Strandberg (Paul); nephew Peter Clark (Deborah); and sister-in-law Charlotte Smith (Richard)—as well as their families. She was predeceased by her sister Isabelle Clark (Norman) and her sister-in-law Carol Gabert (Harvey).

Helen lived a life devoted to compassion, creativity, and service. After graduating from The Hospital for Sick Children, she completed postgraduate studies in public health nursing at the University of Toronto, leading her to two adventurous years of nursing in Calgary, Alberta. Later, she earned her master’s in social work from the University of Connecticut and spent 16 fulfilling years as a school social worker in the South Windsor School system. She received multiple awards for her work, including recognition for founding Parents’ Anonymous of Connecticut and the State of Education’s Celebration of Excellence award. She published several academic papers on older-child adoption including a book, Bittersweet, in 2014.

After retiring in 1997 to care for her husband, Helen returned to a lifelong love: painting. She studied painting at the University of Hartford Art School and trained under Frank Federico, Robert Noreika, Lynne Petersen, and Colleen Reynolds. She worked in watercolor, acrylics, and oils, creating pieces that often reflected the dignity of children, people with special needs, and the beauty of the natural world. Her father had taught her “the significance of every dandelion, every small sparrow, and—most importantly—every individual,” a sensibility that shaped her art profoundly.

Helen’s paintings were accepted into numerous juried exhibitions in both Connecticut and Utah, winning several top prizes, including blue ribbon awards from both the Connecticut and Utah Watercolor Societies. She was honored to present a live demonstration at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Her work found homes across the United States—from Utah and Connecticut to Washington, D.C., South Carolina, Idaho, and Rhode Island—as well as in Canada, England, Italy, and France. A giclée of her award-winning piece, Josephine, the House Girl, is now part of the collection at the Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

Her Years in Utah

In 2009, Helen and Harold moved to Salt Lake City to be closer to their son’s family—an environment filled with love, support, and the joyful presence of grandchildren. Utah became a place of renewal, creativity, and community for Helen. She joined the Utah Watercolor Society and the Intermountain Society of Artists, quickly becoming part of Salt Lake’s vibrant arts culture. The majesty of the Wasatch mountains, which she often wished she were young enough to climb, inspired her both artistically and spiritually.

Helen and Harold also found a church home at Christ United Methodist Church, where they formed lasting friendships. Her years in Utah were filled with artistic growth, deep family connections, and the peace of a community that embraced her.

Services

Inurnment will be held at 11 AM on December 13, 2025, at Holladay Memorial Park (4900 S. Memory Lane, Holladay, UT). A Celebration of Life will follow at 1-3 PM at Highland Cove – Terrace Room (3750 Highland Dr., Millcreek, UT).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Voices for Utah Children (https://utahchildren.org ), honoring Helen’s lifelong dedication to the welfare of children.

Photographs from her life:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/hMTy3Tz962iXHrtu8

A Blessing in Her Memory

As we say goodbye, we honor Helen’s Irish heritage with the words of a traditional blessing she loved:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sunshine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields,

and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.