Helen Therese Kippen

Helen Therese Kippen

Helen Therese Kippen passed peacefully in her sleep, with her family by her bedside on Jan. 24, 2013 at Bayview Retirement Community. Helen was born on Mar. 23rd 1923 in Chicago, Illinois. Her father John Agnes, mother Helen Agnes and husband of 43 years, Gerald Vincent, preceded her in death.

Helen's childhood & school years were spent on the eastside of Chicago, where after high school she worked briefly as a bank teller and then for Upjohn's Pharmaceuticals. She also enjoyed a short career in modeling and was Miss Chicago runner-up. Helen's true calling however came as a devoted, loving wife and mother when she married her grade school sweetheart, Gerald. He was her one and only true love! Their wedding was held in Spartanburg, NC once he returned from a service furlough during WWII. She and Gerald moved from Kalamazoo, Michigan to Seattle in 1952, a place they often referred to as "God's Country". Diane was their first born in 1945 followed two years later by Dennis. It wasn't until they completed the construction of their family home in Shoreline (a Seattle suburb) that their third and final child Debbie was born in 1955.

Helens' passions included raising the children and attending all their activities. In addition there was sewing, cooking meals for family and friends, taking long or short car trips (with frequent stops for local meals).

Helen is survived by her three children, Diane Zwiefach, Dennis Kippen and (Debbie) Kippen Westphal, her grandchildren; Alicia and Aaron Zwiefach, and Emilie Westphal. She is also survived by her Agnes family of second cousins in Luxembourg, Euge;nia, Mariette and Marc Redlinger.

A gravesite ceremony will be held at Holyrood Cemetery on Wednesday, January 30th at 1 o'clock. More complete details, or messages for the family can be viewed or posted at www.becksfuneralhome.com website.