//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/obituary-default.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/obituary-default.jpgLife Story / Obituary
Helen Margaret Simko, 90, of Traverse City, went to be with her maker on Feb. 3, 2014. Her loving son, John and family were by her side. She was born Sept. 4, 1923, to parents, Louis and Margaret Tury in Glen Alum, W.Va.
She graduated from Southwestern High School in Delray.
Helen will be remembered for a host of things, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, caregiver of many, friend and mentor.
She loved to garden, cook, bake, “yard sale,” hunt and don’t forget, win Bunco.
Her work and volunteering at the Women’s Resource Center earned her the Peace on Earth award in 1995.
She was a woman of determination, spoke her mind freely and liked making everyone’s day with a kind word.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Albert, Louis and John Tury; sister, Violet Dunham; and son, Daniel Simko.
She is survived by her loving son and caregiver, John Simko; sons, Bill (Kim) Kodobocz, of Battle Creek, Clint (Kim) Simko, of Maple City; daughters, Violet Pashley and Hope Digna, of Alpena, and Faith (John) Fall, of Traverse City. She was involved in the care and upbringing of her grandchildren, Eric Pashley, of Wisconsin, Kelly (Craig) Mindykowski, of Mississippi, Ian Pashley, of Alpena, Brian and Bree Adams, Chelsea Fall and Stacy Simko, of Traverse City, Stephanie Kroll and Jenny Digna, of Alpena. She was “Little Grandma” to her great-grandchildren, Hannah and Makena Pashley, Andrew and Amber Pashley, Alyssa and William Kroll, Briley Dingman, Naqkara Dittmar and Hayden Simko; and special pet cat, Tiger.
A celebration of life service will be held in the spring.
She received excellent care and love from her “extended family,” Dr. Deb Warren, Liza Petersen, Karen Fall, Rhonda Yanska, Neka Veda and Brenda Voight.
The family would like to give special thanks and request memorial contributions to Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging, Women’s Resource Center, Traverse City, and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Please visit Helen’s webpage at www.lifestornet.com to sign the guestbook and share a message with her family.
The family chose Life Story Funeral Home, Traverse City, to handle the arrangements.