Helen May Finch

November 2, 1946-June 23rd 2016

Helen was born in Tacoma, WA. In 1946. She was the youngest of 5 children born to Walter and Margaret Lynn. She had 4 older brothers, Butch, Bill, Dennis and Patrick Lynn. She graduated from Stadium High School and then obtained a Bachelor Degree and a Masters Degree in Nursing, specializing in Nursing of Children, from the University of Washington. She was also certified nationally in two specialty areas, Ambulatory Care Nursing and Pediatric Nursing. She taught Parent Child Nursing at the University of Washington for several years and then returned to clinical nursing in various management positions. Her passion was working with underserved populations and she was particularly proud of her last 14 years working with families at Harborview Medical Center.

Helen married John G. Finch II in 1967. They traveled to Kansas City where John attended Medical School. Here, her two adored children, Ting & John were born. In the early 1970’s the family returned to Seattle where they made their home. Helen’s passion for cooking, baking, entertaining and decorating were among her favorite things to do. Helen and John divorced in 1980 but remained friends as well as with his wife Cindy.

Helen remarried Michael Walsh in 2000. Mike was a very special man who could do just about anything, and did. They lived in and remodeled a 1910 house in the Roosevelt neighborhood. While Helen did the decorating and cooking, Mike and their neighbor, Thomas Allsop, created beautiful gardens. Sadly, Mike passed away in 2002 due to Melanoma. His legacy lived on in their gardens which were featured along with their home and their story on the front cover of Pacific NW Magazine. Helen threw a big garden party to remember Mike and all of his fabulous work.

Helen was blessed with four grandchildren whom she loved dearly. Cody “Codeman” Rutkowski, Carli “Carli girl” Rutkowski, Madeline “Little Miss Madi” Finch and Hank “Hankers” Finch. Helens later years brought health struggles but she always worked hard to regain her best health. She also had her struggles with alcohol which had ravished her birth family. The vast majority of her life, however, was lived as a sober woman thanks to the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. She is forever grateful to her friends in the program and their ever present support. She had lived in the Ballard community for the last three years and made many new friends and loved where she lived.

Helen unfortunately passed away due to complications following a routine foot surgery. Helen leaves behind her daughter, Maeling “Ting” Rutkowski, son-in law Keith, their children Cody and Carli, her son. John G. Finch III, daughter in-law Heather, and their children Madeline and Hank. She also leaves behind many, many friends both in AA and long term friends and two of her remaining siblings, Dennis and Patrick.

She was an extremely amazing person. She was so giving and kind to others in need. She was a fabulous baker and cook and her cooking will be very missed by all. She had a beautiful smile and such a zest for life. It is truly not the same without her presence. Helen made a mark on many hearts and her heart will live on in ours.

Helens Memorial

Place: The Great Hall at Green Lake

When: August 30th, 2016

Time: 1-3 pm

Address: 7220 Woodlawn Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115

We have also started a “Go Fund Me” page for a memorial bench for Helen. Please go to:

www.gofundme.com/2d4js7m4 for details. (If it doesn’t take you directly to her page, search for Helen Finch and it will come up)