Helen Rose Cook

Helen Rose Kelly was born on April 11, 1926 to Michael Kelly and Wilhelmina Mietz, in Detroit Michigan, the oldest of three children. Helen's parents died at an early age and she was raised by her Aunt Bella in Echart Mines, MD. She graduated from Beall High School in May 28, 1943 and she received a Bachelor of Science in Education from State Teachers College at Frostburg on August 23, 1946. She then moved to Washington, DC where she was an elementary and middle school teacher for Prince Georges County, Maryland and then also for Silver Springs County, Maryland.

Helen was married to Owen Eugene Cook May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C. and subsequently divorced after nearly 54 years of marriage on March 4, 2011.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Michael Kelly. She is survived by her sister Lillian Budenholzer, ex-husband Owen Cook and Helen’s five children; Owen Cook, Jr., Thomas Cook, Mary Maloney, Rose Hayes, and Helen George; Grandchildren Monica White, Jennifer Cook, Adam Cook, Michael Cook, Haley George, Kelly Hayes, and Brian Hayes III; and her Great Grandchildren Madison White, Ben White, and Calista Athas.

Family and friends will be received Saturday, October 25 from 10am to 11am at the Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home in Tallahassee Florida. A Funeral Service and Celebration of Helen's life will start at 11am and be followed by burial in the nearby Meadow Wood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations in Helen's name be made to the Catholic Charities USA at http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/.

Online condolences may be placed at Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home.