Helen Griffen

Helen Sliviak Griffen, MD, of Chatham, Illinois, formerly of Destin, FL and Franklin, PA, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, March 21, 2017, with her family by her side. She was born October 27, 1926 in Leechburg, PA to John Michael and Salomea Ziemianski Sliviak. Her eleven siblings preceded her in death. Helen met the love of her life, Robert Howard Griffen, at Waynesburg College, after he returned from WWII. They married June 21, 1949. Together, they received their medical education at Hahnemann Medical School in Philadelphia, graduating in 1953 and entered private general practice in Mechanicsburg and Butler, PA. In 1968, Helen completed a residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. She held several positions including: teaching fellow, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Assistant Pathologist at Magee Womens Hospital; Assistant Professor at the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine; Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; and Pathologist at Franklin Regional Medical Center. Helen became an airplane pilot at age 50 and with her husband piloted their own small plane. She sailed together with her husband in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. After retirement, Helen and her husband volunteered as medical missionaries on multiple trips to Kenya, Africa. They resided in Destin, Florida for many years before relocating to Chatham to be nearer family in 2016. Helen was a devout Christian with an unshakable faith. She had numerous friends and touched many lives. She will be greatly missed by Howard, her devoted husband of 67 years; daughter, Sally Diann (Richard Butman) Griffen of Naperville; son, David Leon (Sue) Griffen of Springfield; grandchildren, Timothy (Cherryl) Marcey of Lisle, IL, Elizabeth (James) Harvey of Springfield, IL, Emily (Kyle) Franke of Chatham, IL, Deborah (Jeff) DeVore of Mt. Lebanon, PA, Gwen Griffen of Chatham, IL; 14 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Helens family will greet friends at a memorial gathering from 11am-Noon, Sunday, April 2, at Staab Polk Memorial Home, 8855 State Rt. 4, Chatham, IL, 62629. A Celebration of Life Ceremony will follow at Noon with Mark Huber officiating. Stories of Helens remarkable life will be shared at an informal Remembrance Reception immediately following the ceremony. Burial will be in Brookland Cemetery in Leechburg, PA. Memorial contributions may be made to the Habitat for Humanity, www.habitat.org or a charity of the donors choice. Please visit www.staabpolk.com to offer your condolences.