Helen Jane Kolkebeck

Helen was born in 1933 to Stephen and Helen Takacs in South Norwalk, Connecticut, in the home of her beloved “Grammy” in an ethnic Hungarian neighborhood. Helen’s mother and all her grandparents were born in Hungary.

Helen graduated from high school in South Norwalk and earned her Associate’s Degree in Laboratory Technology from Danbury Teachers College.

As a young adult, Helen was intrigued by Arizona’s natural beauty and landscape. Together with the warm climate and beautiful sunsets, she was compelled to make Arizona her home in 1953, where she began her career as a lab technologist. She met and married her sweetheart, Air Force 1st Lt. Jack Kolkebeck, in 1957.

Over the next 12 years, Helen and Jack welcomed their eight children: John, Mary, Barb,Teresa, Mike, Bill, Caroline, and Tom. As an Air Force family, they moved frequently: from Chandler, Arizona to Seattle; Dayton; Las Vegas; Tripoli (Libya); Victorville and Apple Valley, California.

In 1991, upon Jack’s retirement, Helen and Jack wasted no time returning to Arizona where they had first met 35 years prior.

Helen, along with Jack, was a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Sun City West, as well as serving in the prison and homebound church ministries.

Helen is survived by her sister Mae (Bruce) Haeger; by her sons and daughters John Jr. (Teri), Mary Remmick, Barb, Mike, Bill (Gina), Caroline Walter, and Tom (Didi); by her grandchildren Brian, Eric, Christina, Stephen Denny, Alec Murphey, Drew, Jack, Stacy Arnold, Alan Arnold, Holly, Krista, Alexa, Sydney Walter, Alayna Sutera, Daniela, Elizabeth, Mateo; and by her great-grandchildren Avery and Parker.

Helen, now welcomed into the arms of Jesus, is reunited in heaven with her beloved husband Jack and her dear daughter, Teresa.

A Vigil Service will be held Tuesday, August 1, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, at Sunland Mortuary, 15826 N Del Webb Blvd, Sun City, AZ 85351.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in memory of Helen on Wednesday, August 2, at 10:00 am, at St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Catholic Church, 2825 W Rose Canyon Circle, Anthem, AZ 85086. Mass will be immediately followed by procession to, and Committal Service at, Sunland Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Helen to Smile Train, a nonprofit organization and charity that provides free corrective surgery for cleft lip and palate in 87 countries, trains local doctors, and provides hospital funding for the procedures. Smiletrain.org

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. May she rest in peace.