Helen Gertrude Crowe, formerly of 322 West Grand Avenue, died peacefully at Care Partners Memory Care Center on Tuesday, October 7th. She was 95 years old.
The second of fourteen children of Frank and Gertrude Hofmann of Albany, Minnesota, Helen was born on November 27, 1918.
Helen attended Saint Francis High School in Little Falls, Minnesota, where she excelled in both studies and sports. As a teenager, she moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota to help support her family. She was very involved with activities involving Cathedral Church, particularly the choirs. It was through their mutual involvement in Cathedral activities that she met Marty Crowe and they married on July 24, 1948.
Helen and Marty raised six children, Terrence Robert of Milwaukee, Maureen (Thomas) Slauson of Eau Claire, Mary Aileen (Terrence) Erickson of Eau Claire, Mary Kathleen (ChristopherCrimi) of Nokomis, Florida; Martin “Mickey” Crowe of Eau Claire and Mara Crowe of Eau Claire. Helen's surviving siblings are Robert of suburban Saint Paul, Clara of Atlantic, Iowa and Mary Ann, of Aurora, Colorado. Helen's grandchildren are Megan, Dominic, Winston “Rusty,” Joel and Dustin. Her great-grandchildren are Hayden, Winston and Wyatt.
Helen was a strong and resourceful woman, who provided for her family in all times and ways, especially with her wisdom and counsel. She drew her strength from her God and was a daily attender at mass, as was her husband, Marty. Both engaged in a life of prayer. She also was quietly generous to those less materially fortunate. Prior to increasing health problems, Helen was active in the Lacrosse Diocese Charismatic Renewal and contributed several prayer-poems to the diocesan newspaper during the 1980s and 1990s.
A memorial mass for Helen will be held at Saint Patrick’s on Saturday, November 8th, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation in the church beginning at 10:00 a.m.
The family thanks all who helped Helen during her last years, especially the staff at Care Partners and Mayo Clinic Hospice. Memorials can be directed to the Saint Francis Food Pantry.
Cremation Society of Wisconsin is serving the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremation