Helen M. Koeppel of Villa Park, Ill., died March 10.

Born March 22, 1918, in Butler, Helen M. Koeppel, maiden name Vensel, was preceded in death by her sisters, Dorothy and Nancy, and her brother, Jack.

She was a secretary for Sears Roebuck Co. in Chicago for five years before meeting her husband, Roy, at Elmhurst College. The newlywed Helen continued working as a secretary, this time for the Texaco Co., until Roy was drafted in World War II.

She joined her husband at the Aberdeen Proving Ground just outside Baltimore, Md., and again put her secretarial skills to use for the civilian head civil engineer.

Helen's first two children, Barry and Diane, were born during the war while she and her husband were stationed in Maryland.

In 1946, after the war had ended, Helen and Roy moved their family to Broadview, Ill., before ending up in Villa Park, where their daughter, Darlene, was born.

While raising her family, Helen worked at the discount store Benjamin Alan, was active at the grade school and was a co-chairman for the Girl Scout group.

After her children were grown, she enjoyed working for six different market research companies.

Helen became a widow in 1988 and was preceded in death by her siblings, Dorothy, Jack and Nancy.

She never considered herself to be alone, however, as she always was surrounded by the people who loved her. Helen entertained her remaining family regularly with her vivid memories from childhood and shared many stories with her seven grandchildren, who she referred to as The Seven Wonders of the World.

Helen is survived by her three children, Barry (Carol), Diane (Paul) Madsen and Darlene (Bill) Andresen.