Helen Leah Huston

December 11, 1923 - December 21, 2021

Age 98, of Braceville, IL passed away peacefully, Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at her home in Braceville. Born December 11, 1923 in Chicago, IL to the late Anton and Ruth (nee Thompson) Peterson. Helen graduated from Linbloom High School in Chicago and furthered her education at Joliet Junior College as an adult. While in high school her parents moved to Braceville, she choose to stay in Chicago to finish high school and started her working career at the Chicago Tribune. During visits to Braceville she met Russell “Mike” Huston and they married in 1947 and lived in Braceville for the rest of their lives. She worked for Jim Walter Corp. Manufacturing in Wilmington, IL for many years, eventually retiring in 1982. In retirement, she was active with many local village positions such as village clerk and city councilman. She also enjoyed volunteering at Morris Hospital for many years. Helen was very active within the Braceville United Methodist Church and was a member for over seventy-five years. She also played the organ at the church for more than fifty years and taught Sunday school. Her interests were reading, family genealogy, and was a member of the Grundy County Genealogy Society. She loved to travel and always organized the annual family vacation trips throughout the United States and Canada. During her retirement years she and Mike traveled to Europe several times, Sweden, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and China. She also traveled to Mexico for several mission trips building facilities for the local communities. Surviving are two children, Glen (Carol) Huston of Joliet, IL and Janet Cassida of Villa Grove, IL; six grandchildren, Tom (Jenny) Jasper, Heather (Tim) Qualls, Cecile (Pete) Eisenmenger, Abigail (Anthony) Bliss, Suzanna (Nick) Jones, and Daniel (Hannah) Cassida; thirteen great-grandchildren, Madison, Spencer, Stella, Samantha, Colton, Lillian, Sydney, Kate, Allison, James, Jude, Eleanor, and Calpurnia; and numerous nieces, nephews, and their families. The family would like to thank Helen’s caregivers that helped over the years, Laura, Cindy, Karen, and Amy and a special thank you to Lightways Hospice and the Braceville Fire Department. She is preceded in death by her parents, Anton and Ruth; husband, Mike Huston (1/4/2015); sister, Joan Paulson; and great-grandson, Givon Jasper. Per Helen’s wishes, cremation rites will accorded and there will be no funeral services. R.W. Patterson Funeral Home & Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her name may be directed to the Bracville United Methodist Church or the Braceville Fire Department EMS. For more information and to visit her online guestbook, please log on to www.rwpattersonfuneralhomes.com or find us on Facebook.