| HELEN IRENE WALDEN, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, at Saint Anne Home on Randallia Drive, in Fort Wayne, where she spent the last three years receiving excellent, loving care. She recently and joyously celebrated her 98th birthday and amazing life in the company of her much loved and extended family. Born June 11, 1920, at home in South Bend, Ind., she was the only girl among six children and the daughter of Elmer and Velma Keirns (deceased). Helen moved with her parents and brothers to Fort Wayne when she was five. She graduated from Central High School in 1937. She met her beloved husband of 63 years, Bernard Daniel Walden, (who passed away in 2003) at General Electric where he was an apprentice and she worked in the office. Together they were blessed with a daughter and two sons. After staying home and raising their children for 13 years, she entered the workforce at S.S. Kresge Distribution Center in the Addressograph department. She retired from there in 1978 after 21 years. Bernard and Helen enjoyed their retirement years wintering in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., and also enjoyed many years at the cottage they built together on Rose Lake near Coldwater, Mich. Helen was a life-long member of Trinity English Lutheran Church, where she learned to be a faithful servant of God and a great prayer warrior. Throughout life, Helen turned everything over to God always wanting HIS will for her. Helen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and a model for all who followed her. She was unfailingly optimistic, kind, patient, practical, and devoted to her loved ones. She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Ann (Gary, deceased) Bunn of Fort Wayne; son, Daniel Steven (Marty) Walden of Winston Salem, N.C.; and eight grandchildren, Beth (Kim) Reilley, Amy (Paul,Jr.) Marinell, Molly (Shane) Graft, Heidi (Todd) Kleinrichert, Scott (Shelly) Walden, Greg Walden, Shelly (Tony) David, Vanessa (Brian) Cohen; 23 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren. Helen was preceded in death by her son and daughter-in-law, Ronald Bernard and Sharon Rose Walden, in October of 2017; a great-granddaughter; and five brothers, Harold, Clarence, Elmer Jr., Robert, and Richard. During the last two weeks of her life, she received special care from Visiting Nurse Hospice Care. Memorial service is 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in the Nave at Trinity English Lutheran Church, 450 W. Washington Blvd., Fort Wayne (IN 46802), with visitation at 2 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Pastor Kathleen Haller officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Helen may be made to Trinity English Lutheran Church (use the address above) or Saint Anne Home, 1900 Randallia Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46805.
08/29/2018 JFC
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