VISITATION & SERVICES
Friday, April 12, 2024
at
St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 1720 E. Norwich Avenue
Visitation: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 AM.
Entombment to follow at St. Adalbert Cemetery

In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Vincent de Paul Society or St. Paul’s Catholic Church.

Ruth Anne Helminiak

(nee Farrell)

Born to Eternal Life on April 1, 2024, age 98 years. Born September 10 ,1925 in Fort Wayne Indiana to Martha (nee Kempen) and William Farrell. Ruth married Anthony Helminiak at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 4, 1947.

Mother of Robert (Jane) Helminiak, Sharon (Robert) Grabarczyk, Linda (Mark) Mente. Grandmother of Jeffrey Helminiak, Andrew Helminiak, Julia (Bruce Shields) Helminiak, Christopher (Abigail) Helminiak, Joyce (Shawn-Paul O’Dell) Grabarczyk, Craig Grabarczyk, Emma Grabarczyk, Katherine Rose. Great-Grandmother of Sloane, Miles, Hadley, Fiona, Xavier, Jude, Apollo, and Lynal. Sister of Margaret Kelty, Patricia (Thomas) Kandziora, Daniel (Joan) Wilson, and Thomas (Rosemary) Farrell. Further survived by other relatives and friends.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Anthony; siblings William, James, and Gerald Farrell, Grace (Carl) Binter, and Nancy (Herbert) Herrmann; and brothers-in-law Harry Schulz and Jerry Kelty.

Ruth was a woman of faith and was a long-time member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church where she was involved with the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Ruth was an avid traveler.
She not only traveled extensively throughout the United States, but also in Europe.

Ruth was never afraid of hard work. In her younger years, she could be found working side-by-side with the guys outside rather than puttering in the kitchen. Even her “relaxation” time needed to be productive – whether it was keeping up the garden, creating beautiful hooked rugs,
or putting together challenging jigsaw puzzles.

Ruth’s talents didn’t end with handcrafts. She loved playing the piano and singing and she was also an accomplished tap dancer – she never hung up her tap shoes and was still tapping in her nineties.
Ruth had a soft spot for little children – and they knew it; they were drawn to her. Above all, Ruth was a blessing – the room was always a little brighter when she walked in – she simply just exuded love.

Ruth’s legacy is that love.
A love that lives on in every life that she touched –
especially in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.