Helen Anita LaSalle

Helen Anita LaSalle passed away peacefully in her home in Atascadero, on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Williams Catholic Church in Atascadero at 2:00 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, 2005, with a

reception following in the church hall. Private interment, Grangeville Cemetery, Armona, Calif. A celebration of life will also be held at a later date.

She was born in Merced, California on May 11, 1920 to Julian and Alma McPhee. She was the oldest daughter of six girls. Julian McPhee was the president of California Polytechnic State

University from 1933 to 1966. At the age of 13, Helen and her family moved to the Cal Poly college campus in San Luis Obispo, where she met her future

husband, Emile J. LaSalle, a Cal Poly student.

After Helen's graduation from the University of California at Berkeley in 1942, the couple was married at the Mission in San Luis Obispo. Emile was discharged from the Navy in 1946, and they settled in Manteca, where Emile

began his long career as an agriculture teacher. The family moved to Hanford, California in 1948, where they lived for 18 years. While in Hanford, Helen was always supportive of her children's 4-H, FFA and church

activities as 4-H leader and CCD instructor. In 1967, the family moved to Atascadero, where Helen continued with her work at St. Williams Catholic Church as a CCD instructor, and spent many years as a volunteer at Twin

Cities Community Hospital, for Meals on Wheels, and for the Women's Refuge.

Helen loved her family above all else and was cherished and adored by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a woman of true dignity and never spoke and unkind word of anyone. One of her favorite quotes was "It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness" and she

spent her life looking for the best in everyone.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Emile; by her children, Michael LaSalle and his wife Yvonne of Hanford, Calif.; Timothy LaSalle and his wife Judelon of Atascadero; Mary Rickert and her husband James Rickert of Fall River Mlls, Calif.; Robert LaSalle and his wife Joann of Firebaugh, Calif.; Patricia Hill and her husband Tom of Philomath, Ore.; and Gerard LaSalle of Northfield Minn.; and by 17 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; and 2 step great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by four sisters, Bernadette Brownlee of

Arroyo Grande, Jean Beck of San Luis Obispo, Carol Norton of San Luis Obispo, and Jule Ann Taber of Sabastopol, Calif.; and one brother-in-law, Frank LaSalle of Santa Rosa, Calif.

She was preceded in deathby her parents, Julian and Alma McPhee; and by her sister, Claire Lavelle.

Donations preferred to Meals on Wheels, 1637 La Vineda, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.