Bernice Helms

PALATINE – Bernice Marie (Wente) Helms, 96, a lifelong resident of Palatine, died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, at Rosewood Care Center in Inverness.
She was born June 1, 1914, in Palatine.
Until her last year, she lived her entire life on the same street in Palatine. She was born at 15 N. Benton St.; moved to the house next door when she married and after her first child was born; and moved down the street to a house she called home for more than 65 years. She graduated from Palatine High School, where she met Orville Helms and "did a lot of going out together" at junior prom and senior prom in 1930 and 1931. She married her high school sweetheart on her birthday in 1938.
Her life revolved around her family.
Her love extended beyond her family to many special friendships built through the years with longtime Palatine classmates, neighbors, members of the Palatine Fire Department, church friends from St. Paul United Church of Christ, and many others whom she enjoyed being with and working with in service to her community. She spent many years helping at fire department fundraisers, along with church and other community events. She knitted or crocheted handwork for the newly married or for new babies, and even in her later years, did dozens of lap robes for nursing home patients. She loved many people of all ages, and she was loved in return.
She is survived by three children, Orrin (Gloria) Helms of Palatine, Allen (Melody) of Inverness and Carol (Bill) Gitzke of Cary; four grandchildren, Brad (Jerri) Helms of Palatine, Darcy (Ed) De Luga of Algonquin, Shelly (Marty) Van Anrooy of Gurnee and Bill (Kelly) Gitzke of Cary; 11 great-grandchildren, including twin boys born in November; and her sister, Louise (late Leighton) Mangels of Colorado.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Orville; her sister, Isabel Klopp; her brother, Cliff (late Bernice) Wente; and her parents, Lydia and John Wente.
The visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, at Ahlgrim Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine. A service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18, at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 144 E. Palatine Road, Palatine.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul United Church of Christ, 144 E. Palatine Road, Palatine, IL 60067.
For information, call Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home at 847-358-7411 or visit www.affs.com.