Helen Kleparski

Helen B. (Hoffman) Kleparski, age 97, of Loves Park went home to heaven at 3:20 p.m. Friday, August 11, 2017, surrounded by her children. She was born May 20, 1920, in Mount Ida, WI, the daughter of Frank and Phoebe (Cogan) Hoffman. As a child, she grew up on a farm near Mount Ida. Helen was the wife of the late Joseph V. Kleparski. They married on September 17, 1949, and to this union, they had 4 children. She loved life on the farm and she used to tell stories about the chores she had, including feeding the chickens. She also talked about having to walk to school every day no matter what the weather was like, sledding, and sneaking out of her bedroom window to go see her boyfriend. As an adult, she worked at Amerock Corp. until she retired, making many life-long friends there. Helen and Joe bought a house together after getting married and she spent the rest of her life in that home. She was lucky enough to have her children care for her there in her old age. She attended Saint Bridget Catholic Church for many years as a devoted Catholic and taught her granddaughter, Lyn, the rosary. She also helped care for Lyn on the weekends after Gary, Lyn's father and Helen's son, passed away. Helen was a caring woman who loved to shop and bake with her family. She also loved to talk on the phone; in fact, it was often hard to get ahold of her because she was always on the line. Helen enjoyed getting her hair done on a weekly basis, always coloring it and getting a perm, and she would never leave the house without her red lipstick and black leather gloves. In her youth, Helen wore a mink coat that she absolutely loved. She passed it on to her daughter, Geralyn, who still has it to this day. Helen collected owls, but she especially loved angels. Buying a Christmas or birthday gift for her was easy: all you had to do was find an angel. Helen also spent time watching talk shows like Oprah and Dr. Oz and reading magazines and newspapers. She enjoyed sharing the stories she saw or read with her family and started a collection of Shirley Temple movies to watch with her granddaughters. She also had a passion for animals, especially dogs. She even took comfort in a puppy stuffed-animal towards the end of her life. Another animal she had a passion for was birds. She would sit at the kitchen table and look out the window, watching them eat from one of her many birdfeeders or take a bath in the birdbath she kept in the yard. She was even able to meet a Redtail Hawk thanks to Michael, her granddaughter, Lindsey's husband, who is a falconer. After Helen was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Sue Gorman became her caregiver and special friend. Helen also had loving caregivers through hospice during the last few weeks of her life. She touched the hearts of so many and will forever be remembered as one of the most caring, loving, and generous people. Survivors include her children, Dale, Steven and Geralyn (Mike) Cox; 4 grandchildren, Lyn (Jim) Collins, John (Julia) Cox, Lacy (David) Hansen and Lindsey (Michael) Cogar; 4 great-grandchildren, Benjamin Cooper, Evelynn Cox, Cody Cox, Harper Hansen, and a fifth great-grandchild due in November; sister, Joanne (George) Grinker; sister, Joanne; several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by parents; husband; son, Gary; sister, Catherine; and 3 brothers, Walt, Harold and Stanley. Be at peace with your angels Helen Bertha Kleparski. You will forever be in our hearts.

Service at 11 a.m. Friday, August 18, in St. Bridget Catholic Church, 600 Clifford Ave., Loves Park, with visitation from 10 a.m. to service time. Burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Northern Illinois Hospice. Arrangements by Delehanty Funeral Home, Ltd.