Helen Shepherd

Helen Rosa Shepherd was a woman of strength beyond anyones expectations. She was a dedicated and hard worker who always kept her spirits high. She could have so much fun, out of the simplest things; that was one of her most admirable charms. Helen was a sweet woman who was always keeping busy, and was always in contact with her friends and family. She loved everyone dearly, and spending time with those she cared for were some of her favorite moments in life. She was truly a wonderful woman. 1939 was a year when things were happening; the Worlds Fair was to take place in New York and at the same time, Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the first president to be broadcasted on television. The United States Supreme Court declared the sit-down strike illegal, and to top everything all off, the world entered the second Great War. For Bert and Paulina (Ade) Shepherd, the focus was not on the war, or on the worlds fair, instead they were consumed with the coming of their first and only child. On October 31st of that year, their darling little girl, Helen, was born. The family lived in downtown Muskegon on Isabella Avenue. Helen's father worked for Consumer's Power, and her mother was a crossing guard at the corner of Apple Street and Wood Street for over 30 years. They both worked hard every day and their dedication was not lost on Helen. She learned that you needed to work hard in order to get places in life, so it was something she simply did. As an only child, she was also expected to take care of certain chores and things around the house, with no brothers or sisters to shrug the job onto. Helen was also raised to be strong in her faith. As a child, she and her parents attended Trinity Lutheran Church and she continued to be a member her entire life. Helen went to Angel School until the 9th grade, and then attended Muskegon High School, where she graduated in 1959. After graduation, she worked at a few different places until she acquired a position in the housekeeping department of Mercy Hospital. Helen found her niche. She loved her work there and worked very hard to do her best. She cleaned the operating rooms at the hospital and loved both what she did and the people she worked with. She was highly dedicated to her position and it showed with the quality of work she always put forth. She worked there for over 30 years until her well-deserved retirement in 1999. Helen loved going to sporting events, and especially enjoyed watching her alma mater's football team, the Muskegon Big Reds. She had season tickets for years, and always got dressed up in the school's colors to cheer the team on. She was even known to bring her cowbell to the games from time to time. Not only was she a fan of the small-time local teams, she also loved to watch the big leaguers. She was an avid fan of the Detroit Red Wings, Tigers, and Lions. She would often travel to the games in Detroit with a group from the Orchard View Travelers. With those friends, she would also take trips to places such as Dollywood and Niagara Falls. Anything she liked to do, she loved, even more, to share those experiences with friends. She found the fun in simple things and she spent a lot of time at Lake Michigan, relaxing on the beach. Often she would take her dogs with her there, she loved dogs tremendously and owned many over the years. They always were very close companions to her. Helen continued to live with her parents, and they had a huge and glorious flower garden that she helped to maintain. She was close with her mother and father, and when they died in the 1970s it was a huge blow to her. She continued to live in their house until she was 62 years old. At that point the neighborhood began to get a little too rough, and Helen moved into a condo in North Muskegon. Shortly after her parent's deaths, Helen started visiting the cottage of her former neighbors John & Gretrude Vanderwest. Helen became part of the family, attended family gatherings and went on vacations with Mrs. Vanderwest. During this time, Helen became good friends with Don and Mary Vanderwest. She loved to spend time with the Vanderwest's children, and later their grandchildren: she'd do all sorts of fun things with them, like take them to the movies or play mini golf. She also took part in a social group that gathered for dinners on Friday nights. Helen had some of her most enjoyable times there! Helen had an amazing memory and she always remembered old classmates from high school. This was one reason she was an active part of her alumni group and never missed a class reunion. They were important to her, because people were always important to her. She never wanted to miss an opportunity to spend time with old pals. Eventually Helen's health began to fail and she was diagnosed with cancer. She fought it as hard as she could, and for longer than anyone expected. She kept attending the Big Red football games for as long as she could. But finally she had to move into the Visiting Nurse Services Hospice House. While she was there, her old Angel School classmates presented her with a Big Red blanket, and made her a part of the planning for the next class reunion. When Helen made her funeral preparations, she insisted that the Muskegon Big Red fight song be played during her funeral and that she be taken on a final trip around the Ovals at Lake Michigan and past Hackley Stadium at the High School. She was a fan until the very end. Helen died Sunday, August 10, 2008. Helen was a woman of spirit, she was fun to be around, and she simply loved life. What made her life special were the people she kept around her, she deeply cared for her friends and made them into her family. Her school spirit could never be deterred and she was simply the kind of woman that people wanted to be around. She could brighten anyone's day, and she would be overjoyed to do so. She was a remarkable woman who will be greatly missed. Helen's family members include: numerous cousins, classmates, good friends and special friends Don and Mary Vanderwest and their family, Joann Johnson and her family, and Don Chingman who were her caregivers over the last few years. Friends may visit with Helen's family on Wednesday, August 13, 2008, at 10 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. at the same location with Pastor Dennis Lassanske officiating. Interment at Oakwood Cemetery. Please visit Helen's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory, sign the online guest book or make a memorial donation to the Noah Project or the American Cancer Society.