Helen Louise Garthwait

Born on December 16, 1923 in Logansport, Indiana, to John and Viola Schmidt, Helen was the eldest of three girls: Helen, MaryJo (Erlacher) and the late Marilyn (Alexander). The family moved to Adrian, Michigan when Helen was very young, and her father John operated a grocery store in Adrian during the Depression.

Helen was active in acrobatics and dance, her mother Viola making all her dance costumes. She graduated from Adrian High School in 1941 and married Earl Chandronais on January 22, 1944, while Earl was in the US Navy. Helen and Earl had three children: Carol McKay (Don), Ron Chandonias (Sunny) and Cindy Dabkowski (Mark). They divorced in 1971 and Helen subsequently married Earl Garthwait. Mr. Garthwait suffered a brain aneurysm which him debilitated and in a nursing home until his death 13 years later. She was at his side and was devoted to him throughout this time.

Helen returned to school to earn an Associate of Arts degree and graduated from Schoolcraft College with honors in 1981 at the age of 57. She worked as an administrative assistant for Douglas and Lomason until her retirement.

She joined a travel club called the Nomads and traveled around the world. Her friends and fellow travel partners called themselves the Gutsy Grams. She loved to travel and her favorite trips were to Africa, Thailand and Egypt. She went on a nine-day river raft trip on the Colorado River in her 50's with her daughter Cindy and on a tour of Europe later with daughter Carol. Her son Ron lived in California and she visited him and his family frequently.

Some of her exploits were para-sailing in Mexico, hot-air balloon riding in Kenya and rafting the Flathead River in Montana. Her greatest sense of pride and joy were her grandchildren: Julie Morelli, Jill Weeda, Jeannie McKay, Greg McKay, Eric, Lisa and Adam Dabkowski and step-grandchildren Heidi and Patrick Coffer and TatayanaTeeuwisse. Helen also had 8 great- grandchildren, some in California (Raven, Forrest and Casper), some in Florida (Janelle and Jailyn), some in Michigan (Alyson and Jim) and one in Georgia (Morgan). She took her youngest grandchildren to a dude ranch in Colorado and they had many fond memories of that trip.

Helen was a people person, always meeting and talking to people. She loved people, and in turn people loved her. She will always be loved and remembered as a lady who loved life and lived it to the fullest.

Visitation Sunday 4-8 pm at the Harry J. Will Funeral Home 37000 Six Mile Rd. in Livonia. Memorial service Monday 11 am at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to Angela Hospice or to Feed the Children.