Helen Lucille Cook Edell

1937 - 2024

Northfield - Helen Edell passed away at her home in Northfield on March 8, 2024. She was born, the second child of Harold and Vera Cook, on April 27, 1937. Her early years were spent on the Cook farm on Wall Street Road and her first years of school were as a boarder at Rosary School, living in the convent with other children from rural Northfield, including her older brother, Harold, Jr.

After graduation from the eighth grade at Rosary School, Helen attended Northfield High School where she played the clarinet in the band and was honored for her perfect attendance all four years! During high school she worked at the Variety Store on Division Street and the Jesse James Café with Guy Quinn. Helen went on to work in the Admissions Department of Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. In the early 1960's Helen moved to Saint Paul and worked as a medical receptionist in the medical offices of Drs. Weiss, Ubel, and Gilsdorf for several years.

She married Richard Edell on May 31, 1970. "Dick" and Helen lived in Montgomery, Minnesota, until his death in 2007.

Helen came back to Northfield and spent her final years quietly with her faithful dog companions. Helen spoke kindly of everyone she met and was genuinely forgiving of anyone's shortcomings.

Helen is lovingly remembered by her sisters, Patricia McMorrow of Atlanta, Georgia, and Kathleen VanHorn and Kathy's husband, Scott, of Methuen, Massachusetts. She was "Auntie Helen" to her nieces, Dr. Anne Marie Tuohy, Dr. Sheila McMorrow Jones, Dr. Denise McMorrow and to her nephews, Andrew and Jonathan VanHorn, Daniel, Brian, and Andrew McMorrow. She was welcomed home to paradise by her husband, Richard, her brother, Harold Cook, Jr., her brother-in-law, Denis McMorrow, and her parents, who preceded her in death.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00AM, Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at the Church of St. Dominic in Northfield. Visitation will begin at 9:00AM. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Northfield. Pallbearers will be her nieces and nephews.