HELEN M. WARD

Helen M. Ward of Glen Ellyn Helen M. Ward (nee Wagoner), 94, passed away Aug. 28, 2012, at Sunrise of Glen Ellyn, where she had resided since February of 2010. Helen was born on Aug. 19, 1918, to Joseph and Ida Wagoner. In 1936, she graduated from Glenbard High School (now West) and attended the American Conservatory of Music, before embarking on a successful career in music. On March 3, 1945, she married Lt. j.g. Donald C. Ward, while he was on shore leave in San Diego. They built a home in Glen Ellyn, where they raised two sons and lived together until she suffered a stroke in 2009. Helen is survived by her sons, Ron (Mary) Ward of Glen Ellyn and Russ (Diane) Ward of Crystal Lake; grandsons, David (Mala) Ward of Jersey City, NJ, Brian (Kim) Ward of Chicago and Sean Ward of Bend, OR; and great-granddaughters, Stella, Scarlet and Skylar Ward. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Raymond; most recently by her older sister, Lois, who passed away in January of this year at 98; her husband, Don, who passed away in 2010 on the 65th anniversary of their wedding; and her grandsons, Benji (1978) and Aaron (2009). Helen performed with the Chicago Opera Company and appeared with popular artists in the finest venues in New York, Detroit, Chicago and other cities during the war, including the Chicago Theater and the Empire Room. She was a soloist at the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton for 20 years. Helen volunteered with the Glen Ellyn Historical Society, serving as village historian, docent at Stacy's Tavern Museum, and co-author of "Glen Ellyn: A Village Remembered." A Memorial Celebration is planned for Sunday, Sept. 9, at the Glen Ellyn History Center, 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, IL, 60137, 630-469-1867. Visitation is at 1 p.m., the service is at 2 p.m. For more information, please call 815-455-7881 or 630-942-1416.