Helen married Tony Leal on April 16, 1958 in Tipton, CA. They started their life together in Hanford, CA where they had their three children. After the kids were born, Tony and Helen decided to move to southern California to start a new life. They settled in Downey, CA where they bought a house to raise their children. In 1983, the family decided to move back to where they started and made Hanford, CA their home once again.
Helen was a homemaker and a seamstress. She made her daughter, Phylis’ wedding dress and the dresses for all the bridesmaids. She entered Phylis’ wedding dress into the Kings County Fair where she won 1st prize. Helen loved being a homemaker and mother. She loved to sew, travel to Pismo and Las Vegas for annual vacations. and spending time with her grandkids. Later in life, she loved to hop on the back of a Harley and go for motorcycle rides, letting her hair blow in the wind.
Helen was a breast cancer survivor for 12 years. She was a strong woman who was determined not to let breast cancer get the best of her. After her bout with breast cancer, she moved to Fresno, CA, where she lived with two of her grandsons…they kept her young and she kept them on their toes! Her cancer returned in 2021 but she still stayed strong. She was strong enough and brave enough to know when she was ready to leave this world for a better place. She was a woman who prayed a lot & believed in the power of prayer. Helen left this world on her terms, when she was ready and not a minute before. She told her children and grandchildren that she was ready to go and she passed away peacefully with family at her side the next morning.
Helen is predeceased by her husband, Tony Leal; her parents, Rosie and Tony Alves; son-in-law,
Lowell Beecher; three sisters and four brothers.
She is survived by her three children, sons, Rick Leal (wife Lynn) and Steven Leal (wife Joy) and her daughter, Filomena Beecher; brother, Doug (wife Suzie); sister, Virginia; four grandchildren, Steven II, Joshua, Kendra and Nicholas; two great grandchildren; three step grandchildren; five great step grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Helen’s life will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 11:00 am at Stephens and Bean Funeral Chapel located at 202 N Teilman Ave, Fresno, CA 93706.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stephensandbean.com for the Leal family.
