Helen M. Edmonds

Helen Marie Edmonds, age 85, died peacefully at her Appleton home on August 26, 2014, of cancer. She was born on the family farm in Gilman, Wisconsin on November 14, 1928, the seventh child and only daughter of the late Frank and Agatha (Noonan) Duffy. She left the farm after graduating from high school to attend St. Scholastica College in Duluth, Minnesota, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree, becoming the first woman in her family to graduate from college. In 1956 she married Millard S. “Ed” Edmonds, Jr, who died in 2004. Her infant son Vincent also preceded her in death.

Helen had two careers. Her first was as a dietician, working at Mercy Hospital in Oshkosh, then as the Jefferson County Extension Agent, then at Theda Clark Hospital, and at Fresenius Dialysis as a renal dietician, where she ended her career. Her second and most important career was as a mother of seven children: Michael (Amelia) of Madison; Anthony (Lynn) of Crystal MN; Phillip (Jude) of Madison; Sarah of Appleton; Bernard (Sarah) of Appleton; Martha Doyle (Michael) of Dubuque, IA; and Vincent. She was a Grandmother to eight: Daniel, Joseph, Nicholas, Abigail, Max, Isabel, Jack and Hugh. She was a member of St. Bernard's Parish in Appleton and a member of Church Women United, a Christian ecumenical women's movement committed to justice, peace, freedom, gender and racial equality. Helen was also preceded in death by three brothers: Thomas, Raymond and Edmond, and is survived by her other three brothers: Harold, Gerald and Leo. Helen also leaves behind her great friends and wonderful neighbors at the Stonehedge Condominiums.

The funeral liturgy for Helen will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 30, at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH (1617 W. Pine St., Appleton) with Fr. Dennis Ryan officiating. Visitation will be held at church from 9:00 AM until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Appleton COTS (PO Box 1645, Appleton, WI 54912) in Helen's name.