Helene Louise Key

Helene was born on November 11, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois to Henry and Helen Pioch. Unfortunately, Helen passed away a week after Helene was born. Later, Henry married Lucille and they raised Helene, her older sister Barbara and stepsister Joan.

The family relocated to Escondido, California when Helene was 11-years old for Henry's job at Golfcraft. There, she became a flag twirler at Escondido Union High School and graduated in 1958.

She started her business career as a bookkeeper at Seaboard Finance Company, and while doing so attended night classes at Palomar Junior College and became a member of Soroptimist International of Escondido. The Seaboard Finance Company transferred her to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1966, where she met and married Dennis Denning. In 1967, the Dennings welcomed their daughter, Cathy, into the world.

After 5 years of marriage, she was divorced and working a new job at Lux Food Services which then lead her to Tango Pools, as a bookkeeper for 20 years. During that time, she married and divorced Dale Key.

In 1996, she moved on to working at Bonotel Exclusive Travel as controller for 18 years, after which she retired.

Along the way, she developed many lifelong friends that became family and a big part of her life.

Helene is survived by her daughter Cathy Denning (James) Tanner; her full sister Barbara Budd; nephew Timothy (Jeanette) Budd; and stepsister Joan Regnier.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm, July 24, 2021 at Palm Eastern Mortuary. On the same day, a Celebration of Life for Helene Key will begin at 3:30pm-6:30pm at South Point Casino in banquet room Sonoma A.