Helen Rogers Rask

Helen Rogers Rask lived a long and glorious life, and passed away at the age of 96 at Hoag Memorial Hospital among family and friends, on the fourth of July 2013.

Helen was born in Sodus, New York in 1917, the daughter of Francis Elton and Mabel Rogers. She was raised in Washington, D.C. and attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Helen graduated Cornell with a bachelor's degree in Home Economics in 1938. After she graduated, she worked as a dietician at the tea garden in Washington, D.C.

Miss Helen Jane Rogers married her high school sweetheart Philip Curtis Rask, in Washington, D.C. at the Wesley Methodist Church in 1939, and they loved each other for 62 years of marriage.

Helen was a stay-at-home mother until all the children were in school, and then decided to use her education and cooking skills to run the Parkwood Elementary school cafeteria, in Kensington, Maryland.

When their youngest child was in elementary school, Philip was given an offer to transfer jobs from the Federal Housing Administration in Washington, D.C. to Housing and Urban Development, Los Angeles. In 1964, the Rask Family left Kensington, Maryland and moved to southern California. While in California, Helen established a property management business that expanded for over 40 years. Later in life, Philip and Helen grew fond of trips to their favorite piece of paradise in Oahu, Hawaii.

Helen is survived by four children- Patricia Helen, Philip Jr., Pamela Jean and Sharon Lynn; three grandchildren- Kimberly Golden, Jamy Rask, and Courtney Prouty; three great-grandchildren; Alexa Nelson, Crystal Golden and Brice Golden; and one great-great grandchild, Dennis Nelson. She will be greeted in heaven by her husband Philip and two grandsons that we dearly love but also lost, Scott Rask and Sean Heard.

To know Helen is to know a woman of steadfast strength, wisdom and encouragement. She was ever-optimistic, always happy and lived each moment to the fullest. She led a life of faith and always stood up for what she knew to be true. She was the rock of her family and will be dearly missed. She leaves behind an untouchable legacy of life and love.

"Helen's family would like to invite you to lunch immediately following the church services. If you think you will be able to join us please respond on or before July 16th (noon) to Sharon @ "[email protected]". Thank you all"

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. Please copy and paste the link below to the specific donation page in Helen's name:

https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/default.aspx?tsid=72&source=WEBSITE