Helen Marini

All who knew Helen Marini would agree that she was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She always greeted others with a warm smile, and her genuine concern and compassion was easy to see. Helen was a loving wife and devoted mother who was thrilled beyond measure to become a grandmother and great-grandmother to the young ones she treasured more than life itself. Life was not without times of trial for her, but she faced whatever came her way with both strength and courage that were truly inspiring. Deeply loved, Helen will never be forgotten.

The 1920s were a time unlike any other in American history as innovation was taking us places we had never been. Radios, washing machines, and refrigerators became part of our homes while Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh took the world of flight to new heights. Amidst this exciting time was the year 1927 when Alfred and Hulda Skog were eagerly anticipating the birth of their new baby as the beauty of autumn brought cooler temperatures to the city of Redford, Michigan. The big day finally arrived when the baby girl they named Helen L. drew her first breath on September 5th of that year. The youngest of four children, she was born in Highland Park but raised in Redford alongside her older siblings, Ilene, Lester, and Norman.

In many ways, Helen was a young girl of her generation. Her father worked for the Wayne County Sheriff while her mother was a homemaker. Later on, they owned and operated Deer Lake Inn in Clarkston, Michigan. Helen could often be found tagging along with her sister, and it was quite a day to remember when Ilene bought Helen her first pair of roller skates! In addition to roller skating, Helen enjoyed horseback riding and singing in the triple trio and chorus at Redford Union High School. When her parents moved to Clarkson, Helen boarded with widows in order to remain near her boyfriend Domenico, whom she met through her cousin, Wealthy. She went on to earn her high school diploma from Redford Union High School in the mid-forties.

As a young woman, Helen’s romance with Domenico deepened, and she soon found herself deeply in love. With a desire to establish a life together, the sweethearts were married. In addition to being a young newlywed, Helen spent the first ten years of her marriage caring, learning from, and living with her mother-in-law and her father-in-law. These were years that were always very special to Helen. From there, Helen and her husband moved into the home they built in Redford, which is where she focused her time and attention on caring for their family that grew to include Pamela Ann, Sheryl Kay, and Donna Jean.

First and foremost in Helen’s life was always her family. They made priceless memories as a family on vacations in the Alpena area, and Helen also had the time of her life on a retirement vacation out West. For years she looked forward to Sunday dinners with her in-laws and also with her sister and her family. Helen’s was often the place to be for Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings, and family reunions were among some of her favorite times.

Throughout her life, Helen was a bustle of activity. She was very crafty as she did embroidery, crocheted, made Christmas ornaments, and also did a lot of cross - stitching. Always wanting to let others know she cared, Helen never missed the opportunity to send out birthday and anniversary cards, and she had the most amazing memory when it came to remembering birth dates and anniversaries. She looked forward to attending her high school alumni gatherings at Mr, Z’s and Mama Mia’s. Among Helen’s favorite ways to pass the time were reading and doing word searches, watching the Detroit Tigers play, and watching things on television like Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, Lawrence Welk, and most anything on PBS. She also enjoyed listening to Andre Bocelli, the Three Tenors, Il Divo, and Englebert Humperdinck.

Although it was difficult for her to leave her home, Helen showed great poise and strength when she moved into assisted living in 2014 with a positive outlook. She ended up completely blossoming in her new environment without missing a beat.

Described as kind, sweet, and lovable, Helen Marini was a blessing to everyone she met. Although she was famous for threatening bad behavior with a wooden spoon while shaking the drawer, she didn’t have a harsh bone in her body. Helen had a smile that could brighten even the darkest of days, and her love towards others was easy to see. Although she will be deeply missed, she leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that her loved ones will forever treasure.

Helen L. Marini died on September 27. She is preceded in death by her husband Domenico and her daughter Pamela Recker. Loving mother of Sheryl Klotz and Donna (Kerry) Santori and son in law Bruce Recker. Dearest grandmother of 5 and great grandmother of 5. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, 2-8 p.m. at Neely-Turowski Funeral Home, 30200 Five Mile (Between Middlebelt and Merriman). A Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, 11 a.m. at the Funeral Home. To share a favorite memory and/or photo of Helen and to sign the online guestbook, please visit www.turowksilifestory.com