Helen H. Long, age 92, of Algonquin, passed away peacefully in her home on January 3, 2021.
She was born on August 11, 1928, in the small, rural farming community of Kaleva, MI. Her parents, Hjalmer and Hilda Siivonen both immigrated from Finland and Helen was the youngest of their twelve children. She spent her days tending to the farm and attending the local one room schoolhouse. The teacher eventually allowed her to start school at the age of four, because she would sit on the steps and cry while all her siblings were inside.
After graduating from high school, she moved to Chicago to live with her older sister and was employed by the Illinois Bell Telephone company. In 1951 she married William J. Long and shortly after they moved to McHenry and raised 6 children. After Bill's retirement, they traveled the country and settled in Florida for several years until his death in 1988. Helen then moved to Algonquin to live with her daughter Kathleen and son-in-law John Wright and their children John and Jamie. She was a long-time member of Light of Christ Lutheran Church, loved dancing, bowling and was an avid reader. She continued to participate on bowling leagues into her early 80s and remained active until the last few years.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband Bill, a son Richard, her parents and all of her siblings. She is survived by a daughter Kathleen Long (John Wright) and four sons: Patrick (Martha) Long of Seattle, WA, Gerry (Margaret) Long of Shingletown CA, Thomas Long of Bangkok, Thailand, and Dan Long of Chicago, IL. She is also survived by five grandchildren, John and Jamie Wright, Ryan and Maggie Hyde-Long and Ian Long as well as many nieces and nephews both in the United States and Finland.
Her family is grateful to the caregivers at Journeycare hospice in Barrington for the support they provided, keeping her laughing and in good spirits until the end. At Helen's request, a private memorial service be held for family at a later date.
Published by Northwest Herald on Jan. 9, 2021.
She was born on August 11, 1928, in the small, rural farming community of Kaleva, MI. Her parents, Hjalmer and Hilda Siivonen both immigrated from Finland and Helen was the youngest of their twelve children. She spent her days tending to the farm and attending the local one room schoolhouse. The teacher eventually allowed her to start school at the age of four, because she would sit on the steps and cry while all her siblings were inside.
After graduating from high school, she moved to Chicago to live with her older sister and was employed by the Illinois Bell Telephone company. In 1951 she married William J. Long and shortly after they moved to McHenry and raised 6 children. After Bill's retirement, they traveled the country and settled in Florida for several years until his death in 1988. Helen then moved to Algonquin to live with her daughter Kathleen and son-in-law John Wright and their children John and Jamie. She was a long-time member of Light of Christ Lutheran Church, loved dancing, bowling and was an avid reader. She continued to participate on bowling leagues into her early 80s and remained active until the last few years.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband Bill, a son Richard, her parents and all of her siblings. She is survived by a daughter Kathleen Long (John Wright) and four sons: Patrick (Martha) Long of Seattle, WA, Gerry (Margaret) Long of Shingletown CA, Thomas Long of Bangkok, Thailand, and Dan Long of Chicago, IL. She is also survived by five grandchildren, John and Jamie Wright, Ryan and Maggie Hyde-Long and Ian Long as well as many nieces and nephews both in the United States and Finland.
Her family is grateful to the caregivers at Journeycare hospice in Barrington for the support they provided, keeping her laughing and in good spirits until the end. At Helen's request, a private memorial service be held for family at a later date.
Published by Northwest Herald on Jan. 9, 2021.
Helen H. Long, age 92, of Algonquin, passed away peacefully in her home on January 3, 2021.
She was born on August 11, 1928, in the small, rural farming community of Kaleva, MI. Her parents, Hjalmer and Hilda Siivonen both immigrated from Finland and Helen was the youngest of their twelve children. She spent her days tending to the farm and attending the local one room schoolhouse. The teacher eventually allowed her to start school at the age of four, because she would sit on the steps and cry while all her siblings were inside.
After graduating from high school, she moved to Chicago to live with her older sister and was employed by the Illinois Bell Telephone company. In 1951 she married William J. Long and shortly after they moved to McHenry and raised 6 children. After Bill's retirement, they traveled the country and settled in Florida for several years until his death in 1988. Helen then moved to Algonquin to live with her daughter Kathleen and son-in-law John Wright and their children John and Jamie. She was a long-time member of Light of Christ Lutheran Church, loved dancing, bowling and was an avid reader. She continued to participate on bowling leagues into her early 80s and remained active until the last few years.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband Bill, a son Richard, her parents and all of her siblings. She is survived by a daughter Kathleen Long (John Wright) and four sons: Patrick (Martha) Long of Seattle, WA, Gerry (Margaret) Long of Shingletown CA, Thomas Long of Bangkok, Thailand, and Dan Long of Chicago, IL. She is also survived by five grandchildren, John and Jamie Wright, Ryan and Maggie Hyde-Long and Ian Long as well as many nieces and nephews both in the United States and Finland.
Her family is grateful to the caregivers at Journeycare hospice in Barrington for the support they provided, keeping her laughing and in good spirits until the end. At Helen's request, a private memorial service be held for family at a later date.
Published by Northwest Herald on Jan. 9, 2021.
She was born on August 11, 1928, in the small, rural farming community of Kaleva, MI. Her parents, Hjalmer and Hilda Siivonen both immigrated from Finland and Helen was the youngest of their twelve children. She spent her days tending to the farm and attending the local one room schoolhouse. The teacher eventually allowed her to start school at the age of four, because she would sit on the steps and cry while all her siblings were inside.
After graduating from high school, she moved to Chicago to live with her older sister and was employed by the Illinois Bell Telephone company. In 1951 she married William J. Long and shortly after they moved to McHenry and raised 6 children. After Bill's retirement, they traveled the country and settled in Florida for several years until his death in 1988. Helen then moved to Algonquin to live with her daughter Kathleen and son-in-law John Wright and their children John and Jamie. She was a long-time member of Light of Christ Lutheran Church, loved dancing, bowling and was an avid reader. She continued to participate on bowling leagues into her early 80s and remained active until the last few years.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband Bill, a son Richard, her parents and all of her siblings. She is survived by a daughter Kathleen Long (John Wright) and four sons: Patrick (Martha) Long of Seattle, WA, Gerry (Margaret) Long of Shingletown CA, Thomas Long of Bangkok, Thailand, and Dan Long of Chicago, IL. She is also survived by five grandchildren, John and Jamie Wright, Ryan and Maggie Hyde-Long and Ian Long as well as many nieces and nephews both in the United States and Finland.
Her family is grateful to the caregivers at Journeycare hospice in Barrington for the support they provided, keeping her laughing and in good spirits until the end. At Helen's request, a private memorial service be held for family at a later date.
Published by Northwest Herald on Jan. 9, 2021.
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