She was born November 28, 1931 in Richmond, IL to Dr. Alan F. McLaughlin and Elizabeth Lehmann McLaughlin. She was predeceased by both parents and her brother, Alan F. McLaughlin, Jr. Helen lived most of her adult life in St. Louis, MO, where she worked initially as a legal secretary and then many years for various judges of the United States District Court, retiring from there in 1994. In 2010, at the invitation of her cousins, Liz Shively and the late Wilma Pfeiffer, she moved to Peoria to be closer to family.
She was active in Congregation Anshai Emeth and the Jewish Federation of Peoria. She enjoyed music, opera, travel, cats and books, especially Jewish studies.
There will be a memorial service at 1:00 pm Sunday, September 30, 2018 at Congregation Anshai Emeth in Peoria. Cremation has been accorded by Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Congregation Anshai Emeth or Illinois Cancer Care Foundation.
