Helen Ann (Gittens) Thesing

After graduation from Aquinas High School in 1946, Helen married Robert W. Thesing on November 24, 1947. This union was blessed with nine children. Helen devoted her life to her family. She was noted for her baking skills, including keeping the magical freezer filled with apple pie slices and chocolate chip cookies. Nothing put a smile on her face faster than when someone came to visit; there was always room for one more. She will be remembered for her loving, caring, warm and acceptable spirit of life.

Helen will be missed by her sisters, Donna (George) Ready and Carol Gittens; and her children, Don (Judy) Thesing, Sue (Tom) Mach, Tom (Linda) Thesing, David (Yoriko) Thesing, Ruth (Chuck) Siefert, Becky (Douglas) Bigelow, Kay (Pat) Gavin, Michael (Bonnie) Thesing, and Joseph (Heidi) Thesing.

Helens grandchildren are, Scott (Jill) Thesing, Stacie (Darin) Meyer, Betsy (Jeffrey) Innocenti, Kristin (Eric) Evans, Ryan (Carrie) Mach, Matt Thesing, Sarah Thesing, Andrew Thesing, Brian Thesing, Ben Thesing, Connie Tariq, Ryan Schroeder, Nathan (Pam) Smith, Adam (Amanda) Smith, Alex Bigelow, Amy Gavin, Tom (Alana) Gavin, Kimberly Gavin, Aaron (Danielle) Thesing, Daniel Thesing, Samuel (Jackie) Thesing, Rochelle Thesing, and Levi Thesing. Helen also enjoyed and loved her seventeen great-grandchildren and visits from her godchild, Carolyn Johnson.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Ruth (Horihan) Gittens; her husband, Robert; son, Thomas; and son-in-law, Douglas Bigelow. Helens sisters, Geraldine (Marion) Papenfuss, Ruth (Joseph) Hayes, and Frances Gittens also preceded her in death.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, August 21thstth, at 11:00 a.m., at the Church of the Crucifixion in La Crescent. Rev. Paul J. Breza will officiate. Burial will follow in Crucifixion Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the church on Tuesday from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m., where a prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m., and again on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the La Crescent Area Historical Society, the La Crescent Community Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the MS Society, or the charity of the donors choice.

The family would like to thank the Mayo Clinic Health Systems ninth floor staff for the excellent care and support they provided to Helen and her family along with the Mayo Clinic Hospice staff. The family also thanks the staff at the Clara House in La Crescent for providing a loving and caring atmosphere for Helen.