Helen M. Schmitz

I have so many fond memories of Helen, my aunt and godmother. Things weren't always easy for her, but I never heard her complain about her lot in life. (She did have a complaint or two about the progressiveness of her beloved Catholic Church!) She was a happy woman with a generous heart and spirit.
Helen was fiercely loyal to, and protective of those she held dear, most especially her little Mary. She loved being a mother and a homemaker and

I have so many fond memories of Helen, my aunt and godmother. Things weren't always easy for her, but I never heard her complain about her lot in life. (She did have a complaint or two about the progressiveness of her beloved Catholic Church!) She was a happy woman with a generous heart and spirit.
Helen was fiercely loyal to, and protective of those she held dear, most especially her little Mary. She loved being a mother and a homemaker and made her home a lovely welcoming spot for of her extended family, never more than at Christmas time.
Helen was a wonderful cook and baker. Her chocolate cake with chocolate frosting remains a family favorite.
Helen and I shared the experience of creating our families through adoption. When Kenny and I learned of Eddie's birth, Helen was among the first people I called. She was delighted for me. (Norb, in typical fashion, cried.) We brought Eddie home on Helen's birthday. It seemed very fitting.
Helen was truly a sweet woman, but she could get her "Irish up" with her brothers, particularly around a heated poker game. those Saturday night poker games were a fixture of my childhood...Dan and Mary and I would scurry beneath the table for dropped pennies...and if it became a sleepover, it was magical...those high twin beds were so comfortable!
Helen, like my dad, had a wonderful, welcoming reaction to seeing us, as if we were the very people she most wanted to see that moment. She always made us feel good.
When I was in 3rd or 4th grade, Helen was my music teacher at ICS. In a wonderful act of nepotism, she cast me as the Blessed Virgin in the Lady of Fatima class play. It remains my only "starring" role. She also helped me with every big science project I ever did...her artwork on the big posters was always the best part of all my projects. I was always so proud of them.
Helen also had the knack for making young feel important. She asked how you felt and she she really listened.
Helen welcomed our spouses into the family and they, too became her nephews and nieces.
I know Helen is at peace with her many cherished loved ones.
My memories of her will always be a source of joy.
Tricia (and Kenny)

I first met Aunt Helen when I was 10 yrs old, over 60 yrs ago. I thought she was the prettiest lady I had ever met and, she was going to marry my Uncle Norb. My father, Jake, loved to tease her. She spent many yesrs in the church choir with mom. The ladies had such good times and sang so beautifully. Having been out of the country and local Ohio area, I did not see much of her for

I first met Aunt Helen when I was 10 yrs old, over 60 yrs ago. I thought she was the prettiest lady I had ever met and, she was going to marry my Uncle Norb. My father, Jake, loved to tease her. She spent many yesrs in the church choir with mom. The ladies had such good times and sang so beautifully. Having been out of the country and local Ohio area, I did not see much of her for many years. I know little Mary's death was a great loss to Norb and Helen. I'm not sure either ever totally recovered. My visits with Aunt Helen in the rest home were difficult, though we talked, I never felt we spoke. May God bless and keep her and find for her a place of refreshment and peace. Always close to her family: may Sister Peg Ryan find comfort. Love. Charlene DeLuca Lawlor

My dearest Helen ~ thank you for all of the beautiful memories you have provided during my entire lifetime. I have so many memories from our homestead at 624 Castalia Street. From being with Nana Ryan and sitting next to her on her bed when I was a little girl to your homes in Clyde and then when you and Norb moved back to Bellevue. I will always treasure the many "sleepovers" as a little girl and again in adulthood.

My dearest Helen ~ thank you for all of the beautiful memories you have provided during my entire lifetime. I have so many memories from our homestead at 624 Castalia Street. From being with Nana Ryan and sitting next to her on her bed when I was a little girl to your homes in Clyde and then when you and Norb moved back to Bellevue. I will always treasure the many "sleepovers" as a little girl and again in adulthood. The pajama parties were great. Your popcorn was the best. We shared so many of your delicious dinners ending with the oh so tasty apple pies. Thank you for making me feel an important part of your life and imparting so much family history not only to me but also to my children and grandchildren. I will always be grateful. I love you to the moon and back.

To My Sweet Helen,
You have been such an inspiration to making my life complete. So many wonderful childhood and adult memories. The door to our beloved "624" was always open. No Christmas holiday was complete without our car making that turn into your driveway and "624" just glowed. You could wrap a present better than anybody, your delicately detailed petit fours were lovingly made for special occasions, your chicken noodle bake just melted in my mouth and your cakes were

To My Sweet Helen,
You have been such an inspiration to making my life complete. So many wonderful childhood and adult memories. The door to our beloved "624" was always open. No Christmas holiday was complete without our car making that turn into your driveway and "624" just glowed. You could wrap a present better than anybody, your delicately detailed petit fours were lovingly made for special occasions, your chicken noodle bake just melted in my mouth and your cakes were just the lightest. Whenever someone complimented you, you would just say "Oh it was nothing!" To spend the night was always a treat with fresh linens, fresh air and a sense of calm that lasted a day longer than my visit. To have had the honor to pamper you and fuss on you in your later years at the Bellevue Care Center were a blessing beyond words. Your dignity and gentleness were virtues to admire. You so longed for "going home". Well Sweet Helen, you made it. Sweet dreams, all my love forever and as we would always sign off "I Love You bunches and bunches, Susan and Jim too!

Dear Helen was a beautiful woman ~ inside and out. And she remained so throughout her entire life. Through the loss of her precious daughter, Mary; and the sudden and shocking loss of Norb, she remained faith-filled and loving. Helen mourned the deaths of her close-knit Ryan siblings (Dan as a teen-age boy of 17; Agnes at the young age of 38; John; Jim; Mayme, Anne, my dear father, Ed; and last January, Bud) but always knew they would all

Dear Helen was a beautiful woman ~ inside and out. And she remained so throughout her entire life. Through the loss of her precious daughter, Mary; and the sudden and shocking loss of Norb, she remained faith-filled and loving. Helen mourned the deaths of her close-knit Ryan siblings (Dan as a teen-age boy of 17; Agnes at the young age of 38; John; Jim; Mayme, Anne, my dear father, Ed; and last January, Bud) but always knew they would all be reunited in Heaven.

And so we prayed as the angels escorted her to heaven. We wept with sadness at her passing; we smiled with fond memories and we treasure the wonderful Aunt who had a gift for making us feel special.

With love and prayers, Margaret and Jim Reilly

Aunt Helen although it has been years since i have last seen you I do have fond memories of good times growing up and visits with you and Uncle Norb my Godfather and little Mary Margaret and now was your time to go be with them in heaven and they along with other numerous members of our family were there to greet you.May you rest in peace.

Our dear, sweet Helen! May our Lord hold you in the palm of His hand now and always. You will be dearly missed... we thank you for teaching us your kind and gentle ways and sharing your love for our Faith. We know you are smiling your sweet smile from heaven and the celebration is big! You are a true gem and we feel so blessed to have had you in our lives! We love you so much, Chris, Mary, Kathryn, and Sophia Brander

What fond memories I have of our weekly dinners and card games when I was just a little girl. Uncle Norb and Aunt Helen were a fun and loving couple. I rejoice that they will be reunited with their little Mary in Heaven. The Schmitz family was wonderful to grow up in!
Mary Elaine Schrickel Vogel

I remember when I attended grade school at Immaculate Conception in Bellevue. Aunt Helen taught us music/directed our choir. She was so pretty and had such a beautiful voice. I was so proud to tell classmates that she was my aunt.
May she rest in peace.

Aunt Helen, you are at peace now and happy in the arms of our Lord, Jesus. I know Uncle Norb and little Mary Margaret were there to welcome you into Heaven also. Your strong faith and dedication to Jesus and His Mother, Mary earned you your place there.
Although our Mother, Marian Schrickel's poor health has left her limited in travel, she , as well as the rest of our family have offered their condolences and we will send for

Aunt Helen, you are at peace now and happy in the arms of our Lord, Jesus. I know Uncle Norb and little Mary Margaret were there to welcome you into Heaven also. Your strong faith and dedication to Jesus and His Mother, Mary earned you your place there.
Although our Mother, Marian Schrickel's poor health has left her limited in travel, she , as well as the rest of our family have offered their condolences and we will send for masses to be said in Aunt Helen's memory at the Sorrowful Mother Shrine in Bellevue. Please accept our sympathy and prayers to Aunt Helen's family. Love from your neice, Joanie