Joan was the beloved wife and best friend of David L. Helms for over 30 years. She was the loving daughter of the late Theodore Kopecky Sr. and Mary Loretta Kopecky; dear mother of Michele (Rene) Budde and James Benson Jr., and stepmother of Derek (Terri) Helms; adoring grandmother of Brittany Weber, Brett Weber Jr., Sydney Benson, Kate Weber, Caitlyn Helms, Jaidyn Benson, Kelsey Helms, and Abby Helms; and dear sister of Ted (Tina) Kopecky Jr., James Barry (Grace) Kopecky, and the late Bob Kopecky. Joan is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
Joan was a born into a large Irish/Bohemian Catholic family and raised in the St. Louis area. She began working for a local Orthodontist’s office at the age of 16 and continued to work in the Orthodontics field for nearly 50 years, retiring in 2011. She enjoyed playing golf and fishing with her husband Dave, and spending quality time with her family, especially her precious grandchildren. She taught her children and grandchildren how to be independent by example. Joan was a very faith-filled woman with a generous heart. She will be remembered as a tough but genuine, honest and loyal lady with a bit of a stubborn streak. To know Joan was to aspire to be like Joan… She was looked up to by so many and loved by everyone she met. She will truly be missed by all of her family and friends.
Memorial donations may be made in Joan’s name to Cal’s Angels (www.calsangels.org).
