Helen Irene Leahy's Obituary
Helen Irene Leahy (née Mitchell) slipped away peacefully, on January 26, 2024, attended by family. She was born on August 26th, 1943 in Granite City, IL to Helen Fern (Barnes) and Thomas Michael Mitchell, Jr.. Helen is preceded in death by both of her parents, her loyal husband John Michael Leahy (d. 2021), and devoted sister Marie Berens (Mike). She is survived by her brother Thomas (Zeitha) Mitchell III, three daughters, sons-in-law, three grandchildren, brother-in-law Pat Leahy (Colleen), nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Helen graduated from Granite City High School in 1961, where she was active in Masque & Gavel, Girls’ Athletic Association, and sang alto in the Glee Club. After graduation, Helen trained to be a registered nurse at Jewish Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, MO (Class of 1964).
As a child, Helen enjoyed visiting relatives in her mother’s hometown of Farber, MO, and playing “Going West in a Covered Wagon,” bouncing along with her brother and sister on a bed, under a blanket. She did not love picking raspberries outside her home, and like her mother, would swoon in the oppressively humid Midwestern heat. Since her youth, she enjoyed keeping pets, and undoubtedly is having joyful reunions with Prince, Sooty Foot, Ralph, Sarge, Tippy, and Roxanne, among others.
She was raised at the Nameoki Presbyterian Church in Granite City. In 1978, missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared their message with her and she accepted their invitation for baptism. Her family is grateful for the decades of love and service shown to Helen by countless members of the congregations who welcomed her with fellowship and kindness.
While in nursing school, Helen met her future husband, Michael. She was taken in by his “Paul McCartney’s hangdog eyes.” They married on January 9, 1965 at St. Ann Parish in Normandy. Helen and Michael raised their family and lived for decades in Florissant, Missouri until his passing and her health precipitated a move to Dallas Texas. Helen’s last years were spent in the care of her daughter Kathryn Brady and son-in-law Kendall Brady.
Her nursing career took her to several hospitals and care facilities in the St. Louis area, as well as telephone triage work. While balancing full-time work and teenagers, Helen returned to school. She received her BSN from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Summa Cum Laude, in May 1993. She strongly identified herself with the healthcare field, and long after her retirement, retained an encyclopedic knowledge of anatomy, symptoms, medications, and treatments. She particularly gravitated to emergency medicine, and often worked nights. Friends and family regularly called upon her for first-line advice.
In her free time, Helen could often be found doing crossword puzzles, word games, or watching Jeopardy. She appreciated funny people and loved music — especially The Beatles, Anne Murray, Steve Miller, and Bread. She often burst into song with her “Sissie” Marie (a trained and gifted mezzo-soprano); among their favorites was the “Sisters” duet from White Christmas. She was blessed with the skill, learned from her mother, of making fudge from scratch. It is fondly remembered as a symbol of her love in college care packages to her daughters and her contribution at Mitchell family holiday gatherings.
In accordance with her wishes, she was cremated and will be interred with her husband at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. June memorial services in the St. Louis, MO area and in Farber, MO are pending. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charitable organization in her name.
Services have been scheduled for:
Date: June 18, 2024
Viewing: 10:00 am to 10:30 am
Memorial Service: 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Location: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
6386 Howdershell Rd
Hazelwood, MO 63042
Burial of cremated remains and grave dedication: 1:30 pm
Location: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
2900 Sheridan Road
St. Louis, MO 63125
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