Born in Chicago to Michael and Thelma Karel, Helen will be remembered as a cherished daughter, a great friend to many, a big sister to Norman, a loving wife to her late husband Asher, a devoted mother to Mitchell and Sharon, a welcoming mother-in-law to Marta, George and Gary, an encouraging Nanna to Emily and Ashley and, often, a royal pain to all of the above.
She was a beautiful, smart, tough, elegant, energetic and determined woman. And, when it served her purpose, she could charm her way to the head of a line like nobody else .
Helen accomplished a lot early in life and never slowed down. She skipped her senior year of high school and enrolled at the University of Chicago. After a year she left and attended the Art institute. She married Asher Galnick at only 19 and had her 2 kids in short order . She was a great mom and so much more.
At various times she was an artist, a realtor, a model and an entrepreneur. She was constantly reinventing herself out of both desire and necessity. Helen was an unbelievable caregiver to Asher who died way too young, and she was without a doubt the successor matriarch to her family after her mom Thelma passed away. The sun around which the “family planets” revolved.
Helen had 92 wonderful years on this earth, outlived almost all her friends, and will now be reunited with Asher for all eternity.
