Helen Visser, age 100, of New Hope and formerly of Bird Island died peacefully, in her sleep Monday, January 2, 2012 at St. Therese Nursing Home in New Hope. Mass of Christian Burial is Saturday 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bird Island with Rev. George Schmit as celebrant. Burial is in St. Aloysius Cemetery at Olivia. Visitation is Saturday at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. Arrangements are with Dirks-Blem Funeral Service of Olivia.

 

Helen Grace Visser was born August 11, 1911 at Bird Island, MN to Henry and Catherine (Brunner) Weis. She and her twin sister, Catherine were the sixth and seventh born of the 14 children of Henry and Catherine. Helen lived in Bird Island on the farm until 1932 when she married John Visser of Olivia. Their only child, Darvin, was born on June 21, 1936 in Fairmont, MN where they ran a restaurant with her sister Gladys. In 1942, the family moved to Southeast Minneapolis. John bought an insulation company and Helen worked for Ry-Krisp for 25 years. Helen moved to St. Therese Senior Apartments 13 years ago. Her family remembers what an excellent cook and baker she was. Helen was an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Parish in Minneapolis for many years and continued strengthening her faith with daily mass attendance when she moved to St. Therese. The shining example of her love of the Lord and her family were the daily rosary prayers she prayed for her loved ones.

 

Helen is survived by her daughter-in-law, Marlene Visser of Robbinsdale; two granddaughters: Jillene (and Scott) Moen of Eden Prairie and Julie (and Stan) Dennis of Southlake, TX; her four great grandchildren: Kristian Moen, Megan Moen, Danielle Dennis and Amanda Dennis; her two sisters: Cecelia Smith of Bird Island and Phyllis Graves of Burnsville; and her brother Adrian (and Germaine) Weis of Bird Island. Helen is preceded in death by her husband, John Visser, her son Darvin Visser; her six sisters: Margaret Hank, Gladys Schultz, Lorraine Oslund, Catherine Miller, Florence Amberg and Dorothy Vavricka and her four brothers: Clarence, Edward, Donald and Henry Weis.

 

Blessed Be Her Memory