Helen Snider Presti

Helen (Snider) Presti died quietly in her home in Colorado Springs on July 26, 2016 at 92 years of age. Helen was born on October 9, 1923 to Gertrude and Hugh Willis Snider in Cloverport, Kentucky. She grew up with her three brothers in the farm country of northern Kentucky and started her education in a one-room schoolhouse where her mother was a teacher. After high school, Helen completed nursing training at Nazareth School of Nursing at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, receiving her RN in 1944. With World War II in full force, Helen joined the Navy and was stationed at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Long Beach, California. Following the war she became a flight attendant for American Airlines at a time when all flight attendants were required to be RN’s. She was based in Dallas and flew on American’s DC3 service from Dallas to New York.

Helen rejoined the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant during the Korean War; she was stationed at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Portsmouth Virginia as the head nurse of general surgery, and later the head nurse of neurosurgery. In Portsmouth, she met Dr. Matthew Presti, a Lieutenant JG assigned to the neurosurgery services. They were married on May 9, 1953 in Taylorsville, Kentucky and moved to Chicago, Illinois where Helen joined the nursing staff at Presbyterian Hospital while Matt completed his neurosurgical residency. She retired from nursing with the birth of their first child, Susan, a year later. Helen and Matt spent two years in Memphis, Tennessee where their son, Blair, was born. In 1959, the young family moved to Colorado Springs as Matt established his neurosurgical practice there. Helen became a long time member of the El Paso County Medical Auxiliary, the American Airlines Kiwi Club, and the Colorado Springs Country Club Women’s Golf League serving in various leadership roles in each organization over the years.

Helen was an avid golfer, bowler, hiker and skier with a lifelong appreciation of nature. Her love of animals was passed on to both children; dogs and cats and often various other creatures were part of her household. She shared her passion for horses with her daughter, Susan, willingly spending many summer days hauling the horse trailer to drill team practices and equestrian competitions. As a farm girl, she could fix anything with bailing wire and duct tape, and passed this mechanical know-how on to her son, Blair. She never lost her love for flying, and thoroughly enjoyed her trips to Europe and the Caribbean with Matt. She was the consummate organizer and navigator on the many road trips they made across America after Matt’s retirement.

Helen’s enduring commitment was to her family – children, grandchildren – and to her beloved husband, Matt. Her strong love of life enabled her to survive two bouts of cancer, but she had no desire to continue without her partner of 63 years. Helen passed away of natural causes in her home surrounded by her children only three days after Matt’s passing.

Helen is survived by her children Susan Presti and Lawrence Skiffington of Colorado Springs, Dr. Blair and Katrina (Van Hoesen) Presti of Pueblo; grandchildren Maia Presti and Matthew Presti of Pueblo; and her brothers Ernest Casper Snider of Salem, Indiana and Norman Lee Snider of Duluth, Georgia. Her brother Edward Snider, of Taylorsville, Kentucky, precedes her in death.

Memorial services for Helen and Matt will be held on Friday, August 5th at 2:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 219 E. Bijou St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, followed by a reception at the church fellowship hall. Flowers may be sent to First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Pikes Peak Hospice, 2550 Tenderfoot Hills St., Colorado Springs Colorado 80906 or First Presbyterian Church.

The family would like to thank Helen’s many friends who were part of her long and happy life in this community, and also her caregivers at MorningStar Mountain Shadows and Pikes Peak Hospice for their tender care.