Helena Sylvia Kavanagh

Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, October 14, 2012 at Hodgson Funeral Home, Rock Island. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Rock Island National Cemetery on Arsenal Island. Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans or to a charity of your choice.

Helena was born on January 14, 1923 in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Thad W. and Anna Bernice (Dudek) Siwek. She graduated from Davenport High School in 1942. She married George P. Kavanagh on June 29, 1968. He preceded her in death in 1994.

During WWII, she worked as a stenographer-typist in California at Bank of America, Union-Pacific Railroad, and Vroman School Book Depository. She later worked in the Quad Cities at Lee Lunardi Typewriter Company, L.E. Chute Company, and the Rock Island Arsenal.

Mrs. Kavanagh was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at the Davenport Knights of Columbus, and the Davenport Fraternal Order of the Eagles Ladies Auxiliary. She also was a member of the Women of the Moose in Davenport, as well as being a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. She enjoyed bowling and was a league member of the Women’s International Bowling Congress. In her free time, she enjoyed playing the organ, knitting, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren. Helena will be remembered for her deep religious faith, beautiful smile, twinkling eyes, and for her comforting love for her family.

Survivors (and spouses) left to honor her memory include her daughters, Pamela Koehn-Miller (Frederick), of Ankeny, IA, and Linda E. Thacker (Thomas), of Hoschton, GA; her son, Kenneth E. Koehn (Janis), of Viola, IL; her grandchildren, Sarah Koehn, of Bettendorf, Damien “Buzz” Koehn (Erin), of McCausland, IA, Amy Koehn, of Bettendorf, Aaron Thacker, of Buford, GA, Justin Thacker (Olivia), of Loganville, GA, and Kevin Thacker, of Winder, GA; and six great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband George, Mrs. Kavanagh was preceded in death by her parents, brother, John Siwek, sister, Wanda Siwek Cerretani, and a prior husband, Richard B. Koehn.

Online condolences and remembrances may be expressed to the family at www.hodgsonfuneralhome.com.