Helen Irene Peters

Helen Irene Peters was born November 11, 1934 to Cary & Flossie (Allman) Peters at Harrison, MI. She was the third youngest in a family of nine. Helen quietly passed away in the early morning hours of Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025, at Maple View Retirement Community, reaching the age of 91 years.

In Helen’s growing up years, she attended the one room Amble School, right across the fence from their house. Helen completed her high school education with American School Correspondence Courses, going on to become a registered nurse aide. In 1966, Helen had a 6-month term of voluntary service at Gallup Child Care home, where she made many lifelong friends. Early in her work career, she also worked a variety of jobs, including making crates and pallets at Peters Crate Works (where the family says no one could make crates & pallets by hand faster than Aunt Helen), helping on the family dairy farm, and at a bakery. Helen found her calling in health care, where she diligently worked as a nurse aide for many years, mostly working the night shift. She retired from Michigan Masonic Home in Alma, MI in 1999.

Family was very special to Helen, and with her love of travel, we have many special memories of her visits. Birthdays were also very important to her, and we remember the many birthday cards that she sent us on our special day. Another highlight of her life was the opportunity to live with “Auntie” Elizabeth Gable for several years after her retirement, helping care for “Auntie” and keeping her in her home.

Helen and her sister Edna were very close, doing many things together. They shared the same yard for many years, and eventually moved into Mapleview at nearly the same time, where they spent many hours together. Helen was left very lonely after the passing of Edna three months ago, and often expressed a desire to go and be reunited with her in Heaven.

Helen committed her life to God, and was baptized into the Church of God In Christ, Mennonite, on December 23, 1949, at Harrison, MI. Helen suffered much pain in her earthly life, but thru it all her focus and concern was on her family & friends, especially their spiritual welfare. She was very accepting of the things that came her way in life, and we are left with a clear testimony and a thankfulness that Aunt Helen is in a place of peace and rest, where there is no more pain and suffering.

Helen is survived by one sister, Donna (Kurt) Fellows of Alma, MI; one sister-in-law, Ellyn Peters of Ithaca, MI; 4 generations of beloved nieces & nephews (they are all sure that they were Auntie Helen’s favorite); faithful friends, Jeff and Jenny Benesh; and many relatives & friends.

She is pre-deceased by her parents, 5 brothers, Herbert, Orval, Willard, Earl, & Wayne, 2 sisters, Hazel Holdeman, and Edna, 1 brother-in-law, Paul Holdeman, and 3 sisters-in-law, Vada, Leona, & Mary.

The family especially wishes to express their gratitude and thanks to the caregivers at Maple View for their compassionate and tender care, especially in the last week of her life.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 10:30 A.M. at the Newark Mennonite Church with Michael Litwiller, Darin Litwiller, and Douglas Salsbury officiating. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M. at the Maple View Retirement Community 4396 S. Luce Road, Ithaca, MI 48847. Burial will take place following the service at 3 P.M. at the Hamilton Cedar Crest Cemetery 4980 N. Rogers Ave, Harrison, MI 48625.

Those desiring may make contributions in Helen’s memory to the Maple View Retirement Community 4396 S. Luce Road, Ithaca, MI 48847.