Helen Lintzenich

Helen Lintzenich
Helen Lintzenich, nee Reilley, 89, of Swansea, Ill., born Aug. 19, 1919, in East St. Louis, Ill., died at 5:03 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, at her residence.
Helen was the youngest of the "Reilley girls." There was Catherine York, Florence Long Jackson, Loretta Hanser and Helen Tresnak Lintzenich. Rob and Carrie Reilley taught their girls to tear down a car for parts for their auto salvage store during the great depression. From then on Helen could do anything she set her mind on doing. Early on she worked in dress factories, sewing and designing. During World War II she worked at the small arms plant in St. Louis, Mo. Helen had her own custom dress shop for a while. She also worked at Martha Manning in Collinsville, Ill. Her last job was at Famous Barr where she managed the Shop-at-Home design studio. After retiring at age 62, she was called back and worked to age 67.
Helen married William Tresnak in 1938 and had three children. Helen married Al Lintzenich in 1959, and there began a partnership that included remodeling, building and decorating several homes. They also spent several years working craft fairs. Al made wooden objects and Helen sewed children's books and various other items. Helen and Al also worked with the teenagers of Caseyville Methodist Church, starting the puppet ministry, which is still in use today by one of the original puppeteers, Dr. Rick Penny.
Oh so many delicious cakes were lovingly and beautifully decorated - family and friends birthdays, showers and weddings. So much talent, energy, laughter and generosity were packed into one lifetime.
Helen also had suffering in her life, loosing her youngest daughter much too soon and her own physical pain. Now she is at peace and without pain. She had been asking the Lord to take her home and He took her in a most peaceful way, which was as she wished - to leave from her home at Grand Manor. She still had her beautiful blue eyes, delightful smile and engaging laugh. I hope they have a lot of 2x4's in heaven, because Helen will show them how to use them to build all those mansions waiting for us. You go, girl. We'll be along some day.
Helen was preceded in death by her first husband, William Tresnak; her second husband, Alvin Lintzenich; her daughter, Caroline Ann Lintzenich; and her parents, Robert and Caroline Ann, nee Emmerich, Reilley.
Surviving are her daughter, Judith, nee Lintzenich, (Robert) Sewell of Fairview Heights, Ill.; her son, Robert (Susie) Lintzenich of Nashville, Tenn.; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Caseyville United Methodist Church in Caseyville, Ill.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008, at Herr Funeral Home in Caseyville, Ill.

Funeral: Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008, at Caseyville United Methodis Church in Caseyville, Ill., with the Rev. Dave Kueker officiating. Interment will be in Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights, Ill.

HERR FUNERAL HOME, Collinsville, Ill.