Helen Frances Molinaro

She was the oldest of five children born to Peter Paul Parke who came from Ireland at the age of 17, and Rose Kvasnicka of Nebraska, one of 13 children. The family moved to a farm near Collyer, Kansas where Helen & her four brothers attended a one-room schoolhouse. Times were hard during the Depression & the Dustbowl days, so Helen was the only one to attend high school in Wakeeney, KS, as her brothers were needed to help on the farm. She boarded during the week with a friend, bringing her own food from home, then went back to the farm on weekends to help with chores.

She went on to nursing school in Great Bend, KS, then joined the Navy at the start of WWII. It was there where she met her husband, Dr. Joseph Matthew Molinaro, a Navy dentist. They married three weeks later & remained married until his sudden passing in 1964 at the age of 47. Helen resumed her nursing career at the newly-opened Research Hospital in 1965. She retired in 1981, taking up golf & traveling to Florida during the winter months with a group of golfing friends from KC. It was there where she met a very dapper Canadian, Harry Godwin. They married in 1968 & lived in Canada for 11 years until Harry’s death in 1995. Helen then returned to KC to be closer to family.

Helen was a past member of Hillcrest Country Club, Brookridge Country Club, St. Catherine’s Parish, Visitation Parish, and St. Thomas More Parish. She was a devout Catholic, attending daily mass with her good friend Helen Muenks. Together with Helen and two other good friends, Helen Kinerk & Charlotte Sweeney, they started the KC chapter of Ladies of Charity.

Helen leaves her three sons, Joseph Matthew Molinaro (Arlene) of NJ, Dr. Robert Charles Molinaro (Barbara) of KC, and David Lee Molinaro (Cheryl) of FL; seven grandchildren & 16 great grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank Johnna Rhodes for her loving care these past three years. We could not have managed without you.

A private graveside service is planned for later. Any memorial contributions can be made to Rockhurst High School at 9301 State Line Rd., KC, MO 64114 or to Ladies of Charity, 2816 E. 23rd St., KC, MO 64127. Please share a memory at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com.