Helen Marie Cockburn

Helen M. Cockburn, age 86 of Warren, and formerly of Marysville, died Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at home with her loved ones by her side.She was born on September 13, 1931 in Detroit, daughter of the late Wilfred and the late Alma V. (nee: Beaulieu) Rioux.Born and raised in Detroit, it is where Helen grew up and enjoyed her childhood, and received her education which culminated in graduating from St. Mary of Redford Catholic High School, a proud graduate of the Class of 1949. At the age of 21, Helen's life took on new and exciting change when she shared those loving and familiar words, "I Do," with the man who swept her off her feet, the dashing, Stanley Donald Cockburn. The two lovebirds were joined in marriage on October 3, 1953 and began their journey together as husband & wife, a new chapter for them both which found the newlyweds building upon the comforts of home & hearth, welcoming 9 beautiful children into the world, and growing deeper in love with each passing day. They remained in Detroit until 1956 when they made the decision to join the throngs of people heading north and planting new stakes in the burgeoning city of Warren,…known more colloquially as "The Burbs!" For the next 43 years, the Cockburn's enjoyed their bedroom community where they poured their hearts into nurturing their children and providing them the highlights of suburbia that many of us have known as well. Helen was a consummate homemaker & Mom who served her family with the care and compassion of a saint, and made caring for each of them the highest priority of the day.With the kids now grown and out of the house, Helen's next move took her even farther north,…this time to the coastal hamlet of Marysville, Michigan. Nestled along the Mitten's eastern shore just south of Port Huron, things were a bit more laid back in Marysville and afforded Helen an easier pace as she was embarking upon her golden years. She grew to appreciate the charm of the small town environment and made Marysville her home for the next 14 years, making wonderful new friends along the way. In 2013, at the end of those 14 years, age began to dictate certain realities in Helen's life,…one of them being her need for more attentive living which brought her back down to the "city" and her new home at the American House, a senior living facility where she was able to live among and share the experience with many of her peers. Helen would remain there until health challenges compelled her towards more hands-on care, and under the watchful eye of her daughter, Therese.As for pastimes she enjoyed, Helen was quite the phenom on the tennis court. She loved the game of tennis and the great amount of exercise it provided. Coupled together with that and a bit of friendly competition, it made for a wonderfully challenging sport and a chance to keep active and youthful. Also along the mode of sporting pastimes, Helen found great delight in bicycling and getting some exercise while seeing the neighborhood and greeting neighbors along the way. Then there was her penchant for roller-blading and ice skating, the latter of which she loved sharing with her grandchildren over the years. From a more sedate perspective came her love of reading. When the family was tended to and the chores were all complete, Helen cherished those moments when she could curl up with a good book and simply get lost in the pages. Whether it was something just for fun, or a periodical that helped her to grow intellectually, the gamut of literary genres that piqued her interests were broad and plentiful. From "Reader's Digest" to the Catholic churches, "Magnificat," and everything in between, books were a wonderful source of relaxation and refreshment for Helen. Helen will also be remembered for her love of travel, another pastime that brought her immense joy. Many of the others did much to fuel her body and feed her mind, but traveling ushered Helen into the fascinating world of splendor and beauty,…and experiencing life through the many varied lenses of places and destinations never seen before. Over the years, Helen managed to create quite the eclectic travel portfolio that included such destinations as Thailand, the Philippines, and northward to our sister country, Canada. Along the way, she also added the joy of sailing aboard a cruise ship and allowing herself to be pampered and spoiled by the ship's crew and hosts. Yet of all that brought Helen the most joy, nothing could hold a candle to the love of family. Her family meant the world to her, and each moment in their company filled her with elation beyond words,…especially those precious cherubs, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was truly blessed with a plethora of both, and creating those special memories together was something she lived for. They were, truly, the light of her life.A loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Helen touched a multitude of hearts and souls in her journey through life and leaves behind a legacy of love that will be embraced with each reflection shared by those who were blessed to know her. She will be missed immensely and loved eternally. Beloved wife of the late Stanley Donald. Dearest mother of Douglas James (Bungon) Cockburn, Therese Marie Rose, Carol Ann (Paul) Zalenski, Bonnie Louise Lukey, Michele Renee (Bill) Kidd, Richard Joseph Coburn, Andrew (Melissa) Rioux Coburn, the late Diane Eileen Faber, and the late Lawrence Alexander Coburn. Loving grandmother of Beth (Kevin) Rochester, Little Larry Coburn, Donald Coburn, Donita Cockburn, Willie Cockburn, Toni (Kevin) Davis, Locket Jamjumrus, William Cockburn, Luke Izzo, James (Brandy) Rose, Melissa (John) Gorney, James Zalenski, Stephanie Zalenski, Eric Zalenski, Nicole Lukey, Joseph Lukey, Rochelle (Ron) Hillard, Samantha Kidd, Chelsea Coburn, Lane Coburn, and Katelyn Coburn. Helen is also survived by her cherished great-grandchildren; Gavin, Owen, Kate, Sarah, Erin, Alexis, Emily, Autumn, Claire, Brady, Dominic, Christian, Lauren, Gwendolyn, and Nicholas.Visitation for Helen will be held Tuesday, May 22nd from 3-9pm, with a 5:30 pm Rosary Service, at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Road) in Warren. She will lie in state on Wednesday from 10:00 am until time of the Funeral Mass at 10:30 am at St. Faustina Catholic Church, 14025 Twelve Mile Road in Warren. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township, Michigan.In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to Reverence Home Health & Hospice, 37650 Garfield Road, Clinton Township, MI 48036.Please share memories of Helen at her memory book above.