Helen, age 96, passed away peacefully on December 6th, 2023 surrounded by her children at her residence at Villa St. Benedict in Lisle, Illinois.

Helen was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 25, 1927 to Florencio Montoya and Isabell Montoya (nee Chavez).

Helen grew up with her three brothers and sister in the Douglas Park neighborhood.  As a young girl, she enjoyed endless hours at Douglas Park, boating on the lagoon and playing in the park in the summer and ice skating and sledding in the winter.  A true Chicagoan, Helen loved cold weather and fresh air.

Helen attended St. Agatha's elementary school and graduated from St. Paul's high school in 1945. During high school, Helen worked as a part-time catalog order processor for Sears Roebuck.  After graduating and attending secretarial school, Helen continued with Sears full-time as a secretary in the buying department.

After marrying in 1955, Helen raised her four children in the Golfview Hills subdivision near Hinsdale, Illinois.  Helen was an active member of St. Isaac Jogues parish in Hinsdale and then for many years a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Wheaton, Illinois.

After raising her family, Helen attended the College of DuPage to brush up on her secretarial skills.  To her children's continual amazement, she was expert at shorthand.  Helen was employed as a secretary and administrative assistant for many years by DuPage County Department of Public Works where she made many good and lasting friends.

Helen was an expert gardener and continually impressed her family, friends, and neighbors with the beauty of her garden in Wheaton, Illinois.  She never ceased praising the Wheaton Community.

Helen was a loving grandmother and great grandmother who treasured the time she spent and adventures she shared with her grand grandchildren and great grand children.

Though she didn't keep pets of her own, Helen never met a dog or cat she didn't come to love.  As her children were growing up, she tolerated fish, birds, stray cats, unruly dogs, mice, guinea pigs, and a hermit crab in her home.

Helen loved all major holidays and spared no effort in decorating her home inside an out to mark each and every one.

Helen's sense of humor and generosity are a testament to a life well lived.  She will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.

She is survived by her children Jack Wallace & Meg Kandziora; her grandchildren Erik (Elise) Kandziora, Kate (Adam) Russell, James Steinhoff, Wade (Julia) Eckert, Maxx Eckert, Ryan (Deanna) Hickey & Michael (Viviana) Hickey; her great-grandchildren Taylor, Brynn, Bella, Jace, Austin & Joshua. Also survived by many nieces & nephews.

She was preceded in death by her children Susan (the late Wayne) Eckert & Barbara (Thomas) Hickey; her siblings James (the late Audrey) Montoya, Vincent (the late Maria) Montoya, Margaret (the late Joseph) Cervi & John Montoya.

Services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, in the Sacred Heart Chapel at Villa St. Benedict, 1920 Maple Ave, Lisle, IL 60532. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral mass at 11:00 a.m.

Memorial gifts may be directed to The American Cancer Society , American Lung Association , and The Mercy Home for Boys & Girls .

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.