Helen Connell

Our loving mother, Helen M. Connell, passed away on December 7 at Clarissa Cook Hospice, Bettendorf.

Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for Helen M. Connell, 98, a resident of Bettendorf will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 16, 2017 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 1506 Brown Street, Bettendorf. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery, DeWitt. Visitation will be Friday 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.at Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home, 614 Main Street, downtown Davenport where a prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. The family will greet friends Saturday at church from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. The Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home assisted her family with arrangements.

Helen was born on a farm in Plugtown, Iowa, on January 24, 1919, to Martha Pestka Kaszinski and Theodore Kaszinski, both immigrants from West Prussia, Germany.

Helen attended Plugtown School, sometimes by horse-drawn sleigh, and she rode a horse-drawn bus to Welton High School where she graduated. In 1940 she married Harold P. Connell at St. Anne's in Welton, Iowa. They were partners farming together for twenty years in Clinton County and in dancing to all the big bands of the time at the Fairyland Ballroom and beyond. In 1959 they moved to Bettendorf, Iowa, where she worked at the Maid-Rite, Dairy Queen, Fred's Country Kitchen, and then had an over 40-year career with Younkers. She handled the Estee Lauder line for most of those years. She retired from full-time work at 84.

Our mother was a wonderful cook known for her potato salad, prune soup, breads, and pies. Her children and grandchildren were warmed with her beautiful afghans. She kept sharp with find-a-word puzzles. She cherished her grandchildren, especially the time with Brandon and Keaton while she was still in her home, and Alicia's visits with her family always brightened the day.

She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church since moving to Bettendorf. Helen's devotion to the Blessed Virgin was inspiring and brought her much comfort throughout her life. Helen's family extends their gratitude for the loving care and many kindnesses shown to our mother by the staff at Jersey Ridge Place, Clarissa Cook Hospice, Ross' Restaurant and the Bettendorf Village Inn.

She is survived by her children: Therese (Dick) Armstrong, Olathe, Kansas; Joseph (Kim) Connell, Ruth Connell (Jim Miller), Peachtree City, Georgia; James Connell and Stephen Connell, Bettendorf, and Kathleen Connell, Rock Island. Grandchildren: Craig Steingraber, Carrie Callahan, Jason Calhoun, Molly Drennen, Lisa Throm, Renee Lowery, Jessica Middleton, Courtney Heidik, Alicia Lisafeld, Ryan Connell, Brandon Connell, Sean Connell, Keaton Connell, Jacob Connell, and 26 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, her sister, Frances Rickertsen and her brothers, Eddie, Benny, Stanley and Raymond Kaszinski.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Jude's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, donors@stjude.org., or a charity of your choice.

Visitation

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM ,Friday, December 15, 2017
Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home
614 Main Street Davenport, IA 52803

Prayer Service

6:30 PM ,Friday, December 15, 2017
Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home
614 Main Street Davenport, IA 52803

Additional Visitation

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM ,Saturday, December 16, 2017
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
1506 Brown Street Bettendorf, IA 52722

Mass of Christian Burial

10:00 AM ,Saturday, December 16, 2017
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
1506 Brown Street Bettendorf, IA 52722

Burial

Saturday, December 16, 2017
St. Joseph's Cemetery
DeWitt, IA