Helen Esther Trexel

March 6, 1922 to April 8, 2012

On Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012, heaven welcomed Helen E. Trexel home to rest when she passed away in San Diego. She was 90 years old.

Helen was born on March 6, 1922 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, daughter to John and Anna Kozel. She was raised on a small farm in western Pennsylvania. At 18 years of age, She pursued a career in nursing and graduated from Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing. She met her husband when working as the head nurse of the surgical ward of the West Penn Hospital. It was love at first sight as she dressed Jim Trexel’s wounded hand. They soon married on April 27, 1947. Together, Helen and Jim raised three children, Barbara, Don and Lynn. In 1985, Helen and Jim moved to San Diego from the east coast to be closer to family. Helen loved her family, church and friends and enjoyed cooking, reading, playing bridge and gardening.

Helen is survived by her devoted and loving husband, Jim Trexel, her brother William Kozel, her three children and two grandchildren.

Services will be held on April 14, 2012 at the Ascension Catholic Church, 11292 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92124 at 1:30 p.m. Internment following at the El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92121.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Ascension Catholic Church. www.clairemontmortuary.com Photos to come.