Helen M Anderson
Born on 07/15/1923
Entered eternal life on
04/20/2012
If it is not displayed correctly, click here to open it in a new window. Helen Marie Anderson, born July 15, 1923, of St. Charles, passed away on April 20, 2012, surrounded her loving family and supported by Transitions Hospice. Helen, daughter of John Martin and Freda Anderson of St. Charles, was preceded in death by her parents, step-mother Anna, brother Carl Albin, nephew Jon, and in March 1987 by her dear husband, Gordon W. Anderson. Helen graduated from the George E. Thompson High School, now the Thompson Middle School. She then worked at the Colonial Ice Cream Parlor, later at Hawley Products, and in June of 1941 married Gordon, son of Martin Theodore Anderson of St. Charles. They moved to Virginia during WWII where Gordon served in the Navy, and after the War moved back to their home in Campton Hills, where he worked as a carpenter, and they raised their family of three girls. Helen volunteered as a Sunday school teacher, a counselor at Camp Augustana, and helped with bazaars and pageants at Bethlehem Lutheran (Swedish) Church of St. Charles where her family had been members long before she was born. She was also a Girl Scout leader, connected with the 4-H Club, a member of the Wasco Legion Auxiliary and volunteered in the community in many special projects. One particular project was the restoration of the Campton Township Hall on the corner of Townhall Road and Highway 64. In the early 1960s she opened an antique shop, "The Cottage", and in the following 30 years kept that open on the family property, ran many estate sales, and opened another location in Geneva on Anderson Blvd. called "The Cellar". Later she continued the antique business by moving it to the St. Charles Markets II and III. She also served as Campton Township assessor as an employee of Kane County for seven years. She was active in "The Bereans", a couples group that was founded by her church which became a long-standing dinner group of lifetime friends, some of whom included her classmates, all which also remained close throughout the years. Over her lifetime, Helen was active with many local historical organizations and donated numerous items. These contributions included materials connected with her father, her brother, extended members of the family, and many items she received as a result of her antique work that she felt should be saved for posterity as part of the history of the town she so loved. A final set of materials has been recently donated to the St. Charles Heritage Center. She was a member of and supported numerous other organizations, including, but not limited to, being a member of the Friends of Fabyan (Fabyan Villa Museum) and Zonta International (http://www.zonta.org/). She loved being called upon and responded willingly, as she did in 2003 for the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Lincoln Elementary School, (211 S. 6th Ave) and for an historical commemoration at Wasco Elementary School. Helen never remarried, but had known special friends; Harry Sorensen, also from St. Charles who had moved to California. They shared memories of St. Charles and Harry shared his California with Helen before he passed. Marvin Abramson, whose spouse had also since passed and whom she and Gordy had known earlier, became Helen's loving companion in her later years. Together they continued to support each other and their friends. Helen is survived by her three children: Karen Lynn and husband, Gary Carter of Elburn, IL; Barbara Jean and husband Kevin of Oak Ridge, TN; and Rebecca and husband Andrew Netemeyer of Windsor, England; five grandchildren: Brent Christopher Avis of St. Louis; Laura Kristin Kelley of Skokie; Sarah Kristen Pehar and husband Robert Pehar of Chicago; Kristen Anne Netemeyer of Atlanta, GA; and Tracy Marie Netemeyer, attending Cornell University in New York; and five great-grandsons, Joseph Charles, Brian Spencer, and Sean Martin Kelley of Skokie; and Ante Robert and Spencer Robert Pehar of Chicago, Il. Memorial Services are on Monday, April 23 at the Yurs Funeral Home, 405 E Main St. (www.yursfuneralhomes.com.) The family will receive visitors there beginning at 12:30 with the funeral services beginning at 1:30 with internment at Union Cemetery on N. Fifth Avenue. Condolences may be sent to the funeral home. If desired, contributions may be made to the St. Charles Heritage Center (http://www.stcmuseum.org/) in Helen's name. For information please call Yurs Funeral Home 630-584-0060 or yursfuneralhomes.com