Helen Roselle McHugh

Helen was born January 15, 1928, in Como, Tennessee, to Taylor and Myrtle Rachels nee Baker. Her Mother had asthma. Therefore, she did much of the cooking for the family and had to stand on a stool in order to reach the stove. Her Father and brothers called her “Shug”. Most notably, Helen won the State of Tennessee 5th Grade Spelling Bee contest.

Helen moved from Tennessee to East St. Louis, Illinois, in 1943. She worked at a restaurant on Main Street and in 1944 at the Stock Yard Bank for 9 years.

Helen married Johnny Woods on April 7, 1947. They were divorced in 1966. They sold their house on N. 68th Street, East St. Louis, IL, and Helen moved to Belleville in 1969. In 1968 Arman and Helen both worked at Nick’s Catering. They married November 1, 1969. She went to work in real estate in 1975 and retired in 2010 from Caldwell Banker Brown.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Pamela Jan Woods Adams and son-in-law, Frederick Adams, Hockessin, Delaware, her granddaughter, Colleen Renee Adams (Matthew Faline), Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin and great-grandson, Luca Faline. She is also survived by a stepdaughter, Vicky McHugh, and stepson, Dennis McHugh, both of Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

She is survived by seven nieces and one nephew. She had a special relationship with Belinda Stone, Jackson, Tennessee; Holly Hook, Bentonville, Arkansas; and Tina Stivers, Houston, Texas. Two nieces, Tinsel Dukes and Judy Gudovich preceded her in death as well as two nephews, Gary Gudovich and Jerry Rachels.

Arman D. McHugh preceded her in death February 9, 2015. One step-granddaughter, Leslie Creekmore, preceded her in death. Four sisters preceded her in death: Willie T. Rachels, Hazel Elizabeth Rachels, Mabel Louise Rachels McClure and Dorothy Mageline Rachels Gudovich. Four brothers also preceded her in death: Aaron Leonder Rachels, Gerald Taylor Rachels, James Lane Rachels and Billy Joe Rachels.

Her longtime next-door neighbors of over 50 years, Brent and Ann Richardson and the Harmon’s were special to her. Brent and Ann were like family, and she enjoyed many holidays with them.

Helen loved going to garage sales, gardening, writing poems, decorating and baking. She was also an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. She was active in Lambda Sigma Alpha Sorority and a member of the Fairview Heights Church of Christ. Her church family was very important to her.

Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on December 6 at Valhalla-Gaerdner-Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, IL. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Joe Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Valhalla Gardens.

Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s and can be mailed to St. Jude, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to Fairview Heights Church of Christ, 9955 Bunkum Road, Fairview Heights, IL 62208.