Helen May Frank

Helen May Frank Racine- Helen May Frank, 78, passed away unexpectedly, surrounded by the love of her family, on Friday, March 10, 2006 at All Saints-St. Mary’s Medical Center following a brief illness. She was born in Chicago, IL on May 19, 1927 to the late George L. and Erma (nee: Richardson) Thompson. Helen graduated from William Horlick High School in 1945. On May 20, 1950 in Immanuel Episcopal Church, Helen was united in marriage to the love of her life, Richard “Dick” W. Frank, who preceded her in death on April 16, 2004. In 1991, Helen and Dick retired to Lanark Village, Florida establishing close relationships with many dear friends. When Dick’s struggle with Parkinson’s Disease became difficult in 2003, they moved back to Racine. Following his death, Helen became a member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. Helen was employed by Turn Style in Racine, before becoming a cashier at Jewel, now known as Piggly Wiggly, in Kenosha, retiring as head cashier in 1983. She had served as past-president of the Business and Professional Womens’ Assn. in Kenosha. She was blessed with a myriad of personal gifts, including a keen intelligence and sharp wit. Helen was a voracious reader and would sometimes consume as many as three books in a week. She passed on to her children the love of language and the written word. Helen was a brave woman who underestimated the extent of her courage. She taught her values through the strength of her character. Throughout her life, Helen was admired by friends and family alike for her extraordinary culinary and seamstress skills. She once sewed a velvet skirt for her daughter, while wearing leather driving gloves, because she detested the feel of velvet! Helen’s cooking and baking abilities made her the star of the church social and many happy gatherings of family and friends. In addition to her other talents, Helen was a gifted musician. She began studying violin at the age of 3 ½, working throughout her youth toward the goal of becoming a concert violinist. She chose marriage and family, like other women of her era, however, over a professional career in music. Helen also had a beautiful singing voice, as many of her fellow church members attested to over the years. Helen had two grandchildren, Michael Richard Frank, age 12, and Hannah Grace Frank, age 1. She always said that although she had to wait 66 years to become a grandma, it was worth the wait because “she had the best”! Surviving are her daughters, Mary R. Frank of Milwaukee; CarolAnne Frank of Racine; and Gretta Frank of Grayslake, IL; son, Richard G. (Mary Ellen) Frank of Waterford; grandchildren, Michael Richard Frank and Hannah Grace Frank; brother-in-law, Thomas J. (Simona) Frank of Richardson, TX; sister-in-law, Lila Planert of Batavia, IL; special nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, too numerous to mention by name. In addition to her parents and husband, Helen was preceded in death by her two-year-old daughter, Janet Louise Frank, in 1954; and by her in-laws, Richard R. and Hilda H. (nee: Buchholz) Frank. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home, 4600 County Line Rd, on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at 11:00 am with Rev. Terry G. McGugan officiating. Interment will follow in West Lawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Tuesday from 4-7 pm and on Wednesday from 10-11 am. In memory of Helen, memorials to St. Michael’s Church or to the Christian Children’s Fund have been suggested. A special note of thanks to Fr. Terry McGugan, for the spiritual support and friendship shared with Mom, and to the nursing staff in the ICU at St. Mary’s for their compassionate care that was extended during Mom’s illness. You were truly a blessing to us all!