Helen Tondu's Life Story by Maeve Kelly

25th Wedding Anniversary!

kellym14_1 — 2025-02-05 19:08:32 UTC

Celebrating 25 years of marriage with her two children and husband Jack along with other family members at a local restaurant. Celebrating mile stones both big and small is what makes life fun!

kellym14_1 — 2025-05-15 16:02:37 UTC

Helen lost her daughter Jill to breast cancer in 2018 after a long draining battle. Jill was so adventurous, always starting a new job or exploring new places with new people.

Love at first sight

kellym14_1 — 2025-05-15 16:22:26 UTC

Helen met her husband Jack in 1965 while she was working as a secretary for the Santa Fe Railroad Company on the south side of Chicago. He came to turn in his Switchman application into the office and the rest is history. They were married 2 years later and quickly gave birth to their daughter Jill and son David a year later.

kellym14_1 — 2025-05-15 16:26:24 UTC

Grew up on the south side of Chicago moving around a lot because her father would buy and renovate homes in the area. She never strayed too far from the area graduating from St. Rita Elementary School and Mother McAuley High School.

Through the years

kellym14_1 — 2025-05-15 16:30:50 UTC

Helen graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in education. She then went on to teach at Evergreen Park High School.

Keeping busy

kellym14_1 — 2025-05-15 16:32:15 UTC

Spending time with her children, dogs, and hours on hours of crocheting has always been what Helen loves to fill her time with the most

kellym14_1 — 2025-05-15 16:57:50 UTC

kellym14_1 — 2025-05-15 19:33:20 UTC

Moving on

kellym14_1 — 2025-05-15 22:08:09 UTC

Helen currently lives alone in her apartment where she loves to do puzzles and host her friends. This is a picture of her and her late husband Jack who passed last year. It has been a difficult year without him.

kellym14_1 — 2025-05-15 22:09:48 UTC

Helen and her best friend Sandy are planning a trip to Paris next year!