Helen Falk

Helen Louise Falk (née Krogulski)

March 31, 1937 - December 6, 2025

Helen Louise Falk (née Krogulski), age 88, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2025, in her family home in Rancho Cucamonga, California, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born on March 31, 1937, in La Salle, Illinois, Helen was raised with the strong values and work ethic that would define her life.

At the age of 20, Helen married her high school sweetheart, Richard. Their union was the foundation of a beautiful 68-year journey of unwavering devotion. Following her marriage, she pursued her calling into nursing, earning her RN credentials at Mercy Hospital in Aurora, Illinois, in 1958 at the age of 21. This marked the beginning of a distinguished 41-year career dedicated to caring for others. Helen remained deeply committed to her profession until she retired from Sutter Davis Hospital in the spring of 1999. Her compassion was a thread that ran through both her professional service and her personal life.

Together, Helen and Richard raised five children: Cynthia (Frank) Fowles, Richard, Jeffrey, Kevin (Marcia, née Kawakami), and Alison (Leif) Olson. Though she faced the heartbreaking loss of her son, Kevin, in 2023, his spirit remained a constant, cherished presence in her life and heart.

Family was the center of Helen's world. In addition to her beloved husband, Richard, and her children, she is survived by her brother, Laddie (Marilyn nee Peterson) Krogulski; 16 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Anne (Jerome) Witalka and Ted (Tess née Lovell) Krogulski, whom she remembered fondly.

A woman of deep faith and warmth, Helen was a devout Catholic who ensured her family was raised with a strong spiritual foundation. She took immense pride in instilling values of faith and compassion in her children. Her laughter and warmth were the heart of the family home, and she lived her life as a testament to strength, grace, and selfless devotion. As an enthusiastic gardener, Helen found great peace tending to her vegetable garden, which became a source of bounty for countless family meals. She took immense pride in harvesting fresh ingredients that brought everyone together around the dinner table. This was another expression of her nurturing spirit, mirroring the lifelong care she gave to her patients and her family.

Her wisdom and enduring love touched each generation of her family. Helen's legacy of care—both at the bedside of her patients and in the hearts of her family—will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Services: A Funeral Mass will be held on March 14, 2026, at 2:00 PM at St. James Church, 1275 B St, Davis, CA. Interment will follow at 3:30 PM at the Davis Cemetery, 820 Pole Line Rd, Davis, CA.