Doris Helfer
October 21, 1915 — October 23, 2015
Doris Helfer
Doris Elizabeth Helfer passed away peacefully on October 23, 2015, just two days after celebrating her 100th birthday with family and friends in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Visitation will be held at Smith Family Funeral Home, 1333 East Center Street, Ithaca, Michigan 48847 from 11 am to 1 pm on Wednesday, October 28, 2015. A Private burial will take place at Ithaca Cemetery.
Born Doris Elizabeth Wineland on October 21, 1915 in Middleton, Michigan, she was the fourth daughter of Emma and Wilbur Wineland, one of eight children – 7 girls and 1 boy. She grew up on a large farm, always dreaming of living in the city while she worked in the fields from a young age. In 1933 following graduation from high school, she attended the Detroit School of Commerce while working for her room & board - a real accomplishment for a woman during the depression.
She returned home to work as County Clerk assistant, where she met her life-long love, Charlie Helfer, the manager of the A&P store. They were married August 13, 1939 and built their dream home in Ithaca, Michigan. Charlie was drafted in 1942 while Doris was expecting their first child. Marcelyn Kay was born in January 1943 and for the next two years, they followed Charlie around the country, wherever the Army took them. Cheryl Ann was born in 1947, followed by Richard Charles in 1950. Doris returned to the workforce in 1956 at Total Leonard Refineries where she worked in accounting until 1976. Charlie and Doris retired at Clifford Lake where they enjoyed the next 14 years. Following Charlie's death in 1990, Doris moved to Tucson in 1993, then to Colorado in 2001 and finally to Utah in 2005 – always to get closer to family.
Doris lived her life to the fullest – fashion conscious, "born to shop" (frugally!), always the first to embrace "new" things, and eager to travel the world. She loved sunbathing and moon gazing, adored all children, and was an accomplished country cook and seamstress. She faced the world with aplomb, learning to swim and paint in her late 60's, buying a new home on her own at age 78, and emailing with her children and grandchildren well into her 90's. She loved traveling to visit her family, spending much time in Boulder, Chicago, Hawaii, Canada and Singapore.
Doris is survived by her three children; Marcelyn (Tim) D'Avis, Cheryl (Bill) Lenkowski, and Richard (Tina) Helfer, six grandchildren; Greg (Chesney), Tim (Sarah) and Melanie D'Avis, Nathan (Edurne), David (Alexandra) and Adam Lenkowski, seven great grandchildren, and her sister Dorothy (Gene) Hromadka.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Doris' name to a charity of your choice. Online condolences can be made to smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI.
Read Doris Helfer 's Obituary and Guestbook on smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Visitation will be held at Smith Family Funeral Home, 1333 East Center Street, Ithaca, Michigan 48847 from 11 am to 1 pm on Wednesday, October 28, 2015. A Private burial will take place at Ithaca Cemetery.
Born Doris Elizabeth Wineland on October 21, 1915 in Middleton, Michigan, she was the fourth daughter of Emma and Wilbur Wineland, one of eight children – 7 girls and 1 boy. She grew up on a large farm, always dreaming of living in the city while she worked in the fields from a young age. In 1933 following graduation from high school, she attended the Detroit School of Commerce while working for her room & board - a real accomplishment for a woman during the depression.
She returned home to work as County Clerk assistant, where she met her life-long love, Charlie Helfer, the manager of the A&P store. They were married August 13, 1939 and built their dream home in Ithaca, Michigan. Charlie was drafted in 1942 while Doris was expecting their first child. Marcelyn Kay was born in January 1943 and for the next two years, they followed Charlie around the country, wherever the Army took them. Cheryl Ann was born in 1947, followed by Richard Charles in 1950. Doris returned to the workforce in 1956 at Total Leonard Refineries where she worked in accounting until 1976. Charlie and Doris retired at Clifford Lake where they enjoyed the next 14 years. Following Charlie's death in 1990, Doris moved to Tucson in 1993, then to Colorado in 2001 and finally to Utah in 2005 – always to get closer to family.
Doris lived her life to the fullest – fashion conscious, "born to shop" (frugally!), always the first to embrace "new" things, and eager to travel the world. She loved sunbathing and moon gazing, adored all children, and was an accomplished country cook and seamstress. She faced the world with aplomb, learning to swim and paint in her late 60's, buying a new home on her own at age 78, and emailing with her children and grandchildren well into her 90's. She loved traveling to visit her family, spending much time in Boulder, Chicago, Hawaii, Canada and Singapore.
Doris is survived by her three children; Marcelyn (Tim) D'Avis, Cheryl (Bill) Lenkowski, and Richard (Tina) Helfer, six grandchildren; Greg (Chesney), Tim (Sarah) and Melanie D'Avis, Nathan (Edurne), David (Alexandra) and Adam Lenkowski, seven great grandchildren, and her sister Dorothy (Gene) Hromadka.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Doris' name to a charity of your choice. Online condolences can be made to smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI.
Read Doris Helfer 's Obituary and Guestbook on smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Doris Helfer, please visit our flower store.
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