Helen W. Wahba

Helen Wirth Wahba passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 twenty short days of what would have been the celebration of her 77th Birthday. She was born in Louisville to George H. and Louise K. Wirth. She grew up in the West End of Louisville . . . just around the corner from where Muhammad Ali grew up. Later, the family moved to New Albany and she graduated with honors from New Albany High School in 1967.

She then followed her life-long dream to become a Registered Nurse by enrolling at Kentucky Baptist Hospital School of Nursing and graduating in May 1970. She began her Nursing career in the Intensive and Cardiac Care at the old Jewish Hospital. When her husband was charged with managing the Brussels, Belgium office of the First National Bank of Louisville she volunteered her considerable talent at the Institut des Deux Alices where she was very appreciated, and that despite the fact that she did not speak French very well. In 1977, Helen, her husband Leon, and daughter Marcie then moved to Cleveland where Helen eventually became the Head Nurse for the Radiology Department of Cleveland Metropolitan Hospital. Back in Louisville in April 2005 Helen was a part-time Nurse at Baptist Eastpoint Pre-Op Department. Helen was an active-RN for 52 years and only retired in March 2020 when COVID struck.

Helen grew up in a very loving home with 4 Brothers (Bill, Paul, Dale, and Greg Wirth) and 1 Sister (Carol Weaver). On February 8, 1972 she met the love of her life, Leon Wahba. They were married on Mother's Day 1973 by Rabbi Herbert Waller at Adath Israel Temple. They had over 50 happy and exciting years together raising two wonderful human beings : Marcie Dyan Wahba and Jeffrey Paul Wahba. Helen was delighted to welcome their life loves, Joshua Eppert and Rachel Parks to the family.

She was a loving, caring and beautiful person. To meet her was to love her, and to know right away that she was kind, sincere, caring, strong, confident, and very generous Lady, She was the best wife, mother, daughter, sister, Aunt, cousin, and a reliable and supportive friend to all. Helen had many interests.... listening to "modern" country music while driving her convertibles; converting her empty wine bottles to beautiful night lights that she gifted to good friends and relatives; baking the best tasting cookies and pies; cruising through many of the world's major rivers including the Nile, the Rhine, the Moselle, the Seine, the Rhone, Loire and the Danube. She particularly loved to travel to Israel regularly mostly to see and be with family as often as possible. Her favorite Holiday was definitely Halloween when she loved to decorate the yard and house beautifully. She was the most beautiful witch to ever hand out candy. She always looked forward to her twice a week Mahjong games with good friends. And, she would never miss her monthly get togethers with her "Red Hats" friends or with her fellow Nursing School graduates. She was a terrific hostess and did not fear the challenges of hosting over 30 persons for Thanksgiving and her memorable and very patriotic 4th of July parties. With families and friends she greatly enjoyed the annual "Thunder over Louisville" fireworks.

Helen succumbed to Pulmonary Fibrosis caused by chemicals in a recalled Phillips C-Pap Machine. She chose cremation with her ashes spread over her many rose bushes. A Celebration of Her Life will be held on Sunday, April 26 from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM at Gilda's Club of Kentuckiana. In lieu of flowers she preferred for her friends to make generous contributions in her memory to Gilda's Club.