Helen V. Repass

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our mother Helen Veronica Repass. Mother passed away on Wednesday, June 15th, 2011, with the love of her family holding her hands. Helen was born on February 13th, 1921 in Napoleon, North Dakota to Elizabeth and Louis Werlinger. She was raised in Linton, North Dakota until she graduated from High School in 1939. Upon graduation her mother made arrangements for her to move to Milwaukee, WI where she lived near relatives, worked and attended business school. She earned her degree and took a job with the state department in Washington D.C. She was very proud of her job and she shared with us that her signature was on one of the official papers signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt which is still on file at the White House. In 1940 she met Benjamin O. Repass, a Captain in the Army at an Officer's dance and he told her "I'm going to marry you" to which she replied, "That's funny because I'm never getting married!" They fell deeply in love and married a year later in Washington D.C. As a military couple they traveled a lot during the war. When Mr. Repass retired from the army, they purchased a small farm in Tulsa, OK and started their family which grew to seven children. In 1957, tragedy struck when Ben and our beautiful nine year old sister Eva were killed in a car accident. Helen found the strength to move to Cashmere, WA to be near her mother, brothers and sisters. While raising her children she worked at various fruit companies as a bookkeeper until she retired in 1981. She then moved to Wenatchee to be near her daughter Mary where she spent the rest of her life. Throughout her adult life she was a proud member and past president of the American Legion; enjoyed bowling, and loved the horse races and the Mariners. Helen had the strength and stability of a rock that was needed to raise six children alone. She was always available to her children for love, advice, a home and especially a true friend. There was always an extra friend at our dinner table. Her door was always open as well as her heart for love and forgiveness. She gave her children everything she had. Many hearts and lives were touched by our remarkable mother. Her passing leaves a void in our lives but we can take comfort in knowing that she is with God now. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Ben; daughter, Eva; grandchild, Justin Jurzenski; sons, John and Benjamin Louis and also many siblings. Survivors are daughter, Louanne Brown, Wenatchee, Mary (Rick) Cozzalio; Connie Jurzenski (Ed), Lake Tahoe and Tom Repass, Thailand. Grandchildren Matt Brown and Michelle Sari, Nicole, Christine, and Charlie Jurzenski; Megan, Jake and Jessie Cozzalio; Nathan Repass; Hannah Repass and Sheri Nicolella and great grandchildren, Benjamin Sari, David and Brinley Nicolella. She is also survived by her brother Andrew Fischer and sister Louise (Fischer) Bostwick. A special thank you to Helen's caregivers over the years, especially the tender care given by Adrianna Solano and the fun shared with her friend Soloman Soto. A family memorial will be held at Evergreen Memorial Park on, Friday, June 24th at 2:00pm. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guest book at www.jonesjonesbetts.com

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Helen V. Repass

February 13, 1921 - June 15, 2011