Mary Helen Kwaske (Kuhl)

Kwaske, Mary Helen

Loving prayers were offered to assist the soul of Mary Helen into the gentle hands of our Lord Jesus. On September 26, 2023, she was born into eternal life under the devoted care of her daughter Mary Sue and her family. Mary Helen was born in Brooklyn, Michigan on March 16, 1937, to Arthur and Margaret (Anderson) Kuhl. Despite the tormenting efforts of Mary Helen's five brothers, they could not turn away the faithful and loving heart of Ernest "Ernie" Kwaske and they married in 1957. Together they proudly raised 11 children and unconditionally loved 37 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Mary Helen is survived by her 10 children: Steve (Carol), Karen (Dave) Lukasik, Dan, Linda (Joe) O'Dowd, Mary Sue (Neil) Sexton, Margaret (Dave) Krul, Phillip (Ann), Tim (Sarah), Sarah (Brian) Hartley, Cathy (Ryan) Chadderton, grandchildren and great grandchildren; and her brother Dick. Mary Helen was preceded in death by her husband Ernie, daughter Diane, son-in-law Brad Lenhart, her parents, her sister Phyllis and her brothers, Bob, John, Bill, and Jim.

Mary Helen attended Saint Mary's High School in Jackson, MI, graduating in 1955. One of her high school friends offered a glimpse of who she was in high school with this quote in her yearbook, "Smiles may come, and smiles may go, but giggles go on forever." Mary Helen's smiles and giggles carried on through the years of raising her children in the country with cows, chickens, broken tractors and years of Ernie's carpenter trade building materials and treasures. In addition to being a loving mother, Mary Helen took pride in working outside the home. She worked as a clerk at Commonwealth, an inventory clerk at Fields and Jacobson's and an administrative assistant at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mary Helen was a faithful child of God, devoted wife, and mother; she gave her all to God and her family and her life was well blessed with smiles and giggles.

The family will receive friends at Desnoyer Funeral Home on Monday, October 2, 2023, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a Rosary Service at 7:00 PM and at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM.

A Mass of the Christian Burial will follow the visitation on Tuesday October 3, 2023, at 10:00 AM at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church with Fr. Timothy Nelson and Fr. Timothy MacDonald officiating. There will be a private interment at St. John's Catholic Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Jackson, Michigan.

Desnoyer Funeral Home
Family Owned for 133 Years