Helen Sutter

With her heart as her strongest muscle, Helen Bertha Sutter was a source of unconditional love to her family and friends. Her greatest happiness was seeing happiness in the people most dear to her, her children, grandkids and great-grandchildren, and her husband. In their company, a familiar smile always traced across Helen's lips.

The year 1921 said hello to an era of jazz, blooming skyscrapers, and carefree amusement. With the prosperity of the post-war economy, the Roaring Twenties bloomed across America. The "flapper" was a young lady's dress of choice, and a new equality pulsed through the land with the ratification of women's suffrage. Amidst these many changes, George Dobbs and his wife Ethel Hudelston found their family changing too; on December 16, 1921 their daughter Helen was born in their hometown of Monticello, Kentucky.

Helen grew up in a typical American home, the fourth of five children. Her father provided for the family through his job as an oil driller, which frequently required him to travel. Helen's mother kept the house and looked after the children, and the entire family helped out with their small tobacco crop, which they sold off for an additional income. The Monticello schools were very small, and everyone knew everyone. Helen attended these schools from her elementary years through her high school graduation in 1939, enjoying the familiarity of a friendly and small student body.

After high school Helen traveled to Michigan to visit her brother Clarence. It was a fateful trip, for while she was visiting the German Village on Lake Michigan Dr. NW, a tavern and eatery she met Charles Sutter. He struck her as a sort of rebel rouser, a guy who rode motorcycles and liked to do things in his own unique way. They quickly fell in love, and after a short courtship they married on August 21, 1940. Though Helen was raised in the Baptist denomination, she converted to Catholicism upon marrying Charles and together they joined the St. Mary's Church. Helen was a member in this church for over sixty years, and her faith was always a guiding light in her life.

After marrying, Helen and Charles moved into the home of her parents for a short while. Eventually they built their own house in Marne, and this house soon filled itself with a family. Diana was born in 1941, followed by Alan in 1943; twelve years later, in 1955, their youngest Debra was born. Since Debra was much younger than her siblings, Helen let Diana assume some of the responsibilities of raising a child. It was a unique opportunity, which resulted in a very special bond between the two sisters.

Family life in the Sutter household was very traditional. Charles worked while Helen stayed at home, and the children have many fond memories of canning tomatoes, peaches, and cherries. She and Charles would regularly invite friends over for a card game, usually "Shoot the Moon" or "Hearts." In the summertime the family took regularly vacations, and over the years they explored nearly every state in the union. They would picnic along the way and sleep in motels. Many happy moments, as well as the changing scenery, were recorded on Charles' 8mm camera. The family also frequently travelled back to Kentucky, to Owensboro where their reunions were held.

As Helen and Charles grew older and their children gradually moved out of the house, they began dividing their year between Michigan and Florida. From November to April they would head down to Ocala where they had a trailer. This was a tradition they kept for many years.

Helen loved to pass her time by playing games -- and any sort of game, from cards to crossword puzzles. Every day she filled in the newspaper crossword puzzle. Even though she had no advance degree, she had a very bright and quick mind, probably a smartness refined by all the crossword puzzles she worked on. Sewing was another of Helen's pass times, and she also liked to knit hats and gloves. She loved to shop, especially at garage sales, and she would often buy things that weren't altogether necessary. Among her family and friends, her cooking was always famous. It was well known that her cheesecake and pies were the best. Her holiday dinners always beckoned a full table, and if she was not in Florida in late November, she would prepare the Thanksgiving meal. Her favorite food was her chocolate candy.

In the year 1999, Helen's life changed with the passing of her husband. Despite the hardship of saying goodbye after so many years of happy marriage, Helen maintained her positive spirits. She continued to take care of herself, just as she always did; she wore her makeup and always kept her hair and nails done. Because she was now more or less confined to her home, she rediscovered her love for gardening. She took in two cats for the company, and she always enjoyed watching the hummingbirds that came by the house. Helen was always reading something and especially enjoyed love stories. With Charles' passing, she became much more talkative, and she would strike up a conversation with anyone who came her way.

Some of Helen's greatest joys came later in her life, with the births of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved dearly. She was a true family woman, who touched many lives. She will be greatly missed by the many people who loved her.

Helen passed away at Metron of Lamont on Saturday morning, January 8, 2004. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles in 1999. She is survived by her, children, Diana Sutter, Alan Sutter, Debra (George) Ristow; her grandchildren, Susan (Jim) Spahn, Michael (Sue) Felicioni, Timothy (Kris) Felicioni, Josh VandeJagt; her great grandchildren, Chris and Zachary Spahn, Amber, Noah, Sampson, Mason and Justina Felicioni; her brothers, Clarance (Rowena) Dobbs, George (Bernadine) Dobbs Jr. several nieces and nephews and many friends. A funeral to celebrate the life of Helen will be held at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home -Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW on Monday morning at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in Rosedale Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet her family at the funeral home on Sunday from 3 – 6 PM and again on Monday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. Please visit Helen’s personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com where you can sign the guest book and leave your memories of her.

HERITAGE LIFE STORY FUNERAL HOMES