Helen T. Kessen 74 of Rochelle died Thursday Oct. 12, 2006 at home. She was born Aug. 24, 1932 in Rochelle, IL the daughter of Winthrop and Helen Van Velzer O'Brien. She married Eugene Kessen Oct. 7, 1950 in Rochelle.

Helen graduated from St. Patrick Catholic school and Rochelle Township High School. She was a member of St. Patrick church Rochelle. She worked in the Quality Control Lab at Del Monte for many years as well as Moore's True Value Hardware and Quinn's Jewelry in Rochelle. She loved the interaction with people so much that she was known to make several trips to the store each day mainly to see and visit with others. Helen deeply enjoyed her friends through AA and was proud to share her own recovery story in order to help others defeat alcoholism.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, a step-father Henry Taake and her brother George A. O'Brien.

Helen passes into eternity leaving her husband Gene of 56 years, a legacy through her children; Deann (Tom) Hausner of Wisconsin, Ronnie (Kim) Kessen of Rochelle, Karen (Gary) Salerno of Michigan and Kalah (Dave) Williams of Rochelle. Grandchildren Ryan, Amanda, Ferenc and Brandon Hausner, Jerry, Stefanie and Nolan Kessen, Tony and Matthew Salerno, Mary-Therese, Clare, Dominic and Francesca Williams. Helen also leaves her sisters Hazel Manarchy of Colorado and Katie Krizan of Wisconsin and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be held Monday Oct. 16th at St. Patrick Catholic church at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. David Peck officiating. Visitation will be Sunday 2 to 6 P.M. at Unger-Horner Funeral Home. A Rosary service will be at 1:30 on Sunday afternoon.

In Lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to St. Patrick Church.

Burial St. Patrick Cemetery.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May Helen rest in peace! Amen.