Helen J. Trippel

Helen J. Trippel, 90, of Mishawaka, passed away Saturday, December 12, 2020, in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Helen was born September 15, 1930 in South Bend, to the late Joseph and Jennie (Szmankowski) Kotal. She was a graduate of North Liberty High School.

Helen married Thomas A. Trippel in Walkerton on June 2, 1951. They settled in Madison Township where they raised their family.

Helen was an amazing wife and mother. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mishawaka where she is remembered for her wonderful soup that she would make for the annual bazaar. She loved the annual fishing trip to Canada, and she was known to out fish Tom! Helen was an avid sports fan, loved the Cubs and enjoyed cheering on the school sport teams that her grandchildren attended. She enjoyed traveling, and spent time visiting sights in Washington DC, and the mountains and beach in the Carolinas. Helen was a prolific letter-writer to friends and family, near and far. She loved eating desserts for breakfast! Charlie Brown, a dachshund, was her faithful companion, he will miss her.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas; a son, Steven; a daughter, Carol Walker; three sisters; three brothers; and one great grandchild.

Helen is survived by her loving family which includes six children, Ann Marie (Patrick) Watts, Katherine (Howard) Davis, Christine (C. Daniel) McGrew, Julia (Michael) Neland, Barbara (Thomas) Obren and Philip (Susan) Trippel; son-in-law, Terry Walker; daughter-in-law, Tina Jones; a sister, Mary Dooms; seventeen grandchildren, Andrea, Vanessa, Kathleen, Stephanie, Judith, Jason, Jennifer, Brett, Christopher, Adam, Aaron, Joshua, Alyssa, Caitlin, Colton, Nathan and Carleigh; ten great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Thursday, December 17, in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 225 S. Mill Street, Mishawaka, with Rev. Christopher Lapp officiating. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola.

Visitation will be from 4 – 7 pm on Wednesday in Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, 503 W. 3rd Street, Mishawaka.

Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Church or Humane Society of St. Joseph County.