(Elena) Helen B. Glisch Obituary (1921 - 2012)

Helen (Elena) Baca-White Glisch Born January 4, 1921 in Winslow, AZ to Jesus and Modesta Baca and went home to be with her beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on December 26th, 2012. Helen's career positions included working for the BIA in Nutrition, and a teacher in the Headstart program. She was an active member of the Winslow, Az community as a PTA president and a civic leader. Helen loved music and was an accomplished singer and musician. She sang professionally and had offers to record, but after serious consideration and family input, she decided not to pursue an entertainment career. However, she continued to share her love of music performance through her church choir. Family and God were centric in her life and as the matriarch of a close-knit family, she instilled many traditions, including a zest for life, and lots of love in the lives of her daughters Lita and Marjorie, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. She always had a twinkle in her eye, and a wonderful sense of humor, that was infectious to all those who knew her. Helen's greatest joy was her family and whether it was a holiday celebration, making tamales for Christmas Eve, leading and singing family traditional Christmas songs with her sister, dancing the cumbia, or an intimate gathering, she treasured each moment. She will be missed dearly! She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Mary Bertron and her husband Clarence Glisch. Helen is survived by daughters, Lita Tope (Jim) and Marjorie Petricek (Rod); niece Yvonne Sandoz (Ken); grandchildren Denise, David, Shalene, Jason and Kurt; 11 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. The funeral will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic church located at 11001 N. 40th St., Phoenix on Friday, December 28th, 2012 at 10:00 am. The family requests in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to St. Vincent de Paul through St. Joseph's parish.