Helen M. De Lude

Helen Margaret DeLude, passed away peacefully with family just one month shy of her 97th birthday, for a woman who was shy herself, that seemed very fitting. Helen was born on October 28, 1926 in Marine City, Michigan to Arnold and Bertha Dodge and grew up during the worst economic downturn in modern history, then she and her family lived through World War II. As a teenager, she accepted her duties and responsibilities to both her family and her country by physically, doing her share of the farm chores and then financially, when she contributed to the family coffers. She worked the afternoon shift, while still in high school, at the Detroit Gasket Company in Marine City, a company that provided support to the war effort. In 1948 she married John DeLude of Marine City, a marriage that lasted 54 years. Helen was a dedicated wife and mother who spent the majority of her life caring for and raising their 6 children. Recently, she fondly remembered the picnics they went on, certainly a nod to the joy she found in preparing meals for them. Over the years, she acquired a cookbook collection that was outstanding and family members who can attest to her prowess in the kitchen. During their marriage, she and John lived in Marine City, Warren and Clarkston, Michigan and when the economy experienced another downturn in the early 1980s they relocated to Texas, residing near Dallas and New Brunffels. While living in Dallas, after a forty year hiatus Helen went to work for American Airlines at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport as a TSA agent. Taking her job seriously, she looked for and occasionally found passengers attempting to board flights with a weapon. While the passengers, back in the 1980s, may have gotten on the flight, the guns for sure did not. Helen often told of encounters with celebrities while working at the airport. Her most humorous story was the day she was at her checkpoint, near the top of the escalator when Andre the Giant came up. As he grew larger and larger and larger, the 115 pound TSA agent silently prayed the 'giant' would not step into her line — that day, her prayers were not answered. Helen was a member of the St. John's United Church of Christ in Marine City, a church her mother Bertha was a founding member of. She was a very private and devout person, attending churches in Warren, Clarkston, Dallas, and New Brunffels. Helen was very patriotic and mourned her brother, Laverne, who went missing in 1952 during the Korean War; she kept up the family's quiet vigil hoping his remains would be found, as of yet, they have not. Helen was a member of the VFW post in New Brunffels where her cherry pies were coveted at the post's fundraisers and informal pot-luck dinners. Helen's family will miss her greatly, but they also know she has gone to join another 'picnic' where she will find her parents (Arnold and Bertha Dodge), her siblings (Evelyn Summerville, Florence Deutsch, Laverne Dodge, Delores Schunk, Arnold Dodge and Betty Reynolds), her spouse (John DeLude), two of her sons (Jay and Edward DeLude), and a grand-daughter (Kimberly McHale). All, we expect, are waiting for whatever she brings to the table. A private family memorial will be held to honor Helen's life before being laid to rest at Great Lakes National Cemetery where John is waiting for her. Please consider a donation instead of flowers to: Great Lakes National Cemetery (248-328-0386) 4200 Belford Road, Holly, Michigan, 48442 Helen is survived by her children: Sharon (Phillip) McHale, John (Stella) DeLude, Linda (Marvin) Pacer, Joe (Carolyn Frericks) DeLude, Grandchildren: Michael, Matthew, Leah, Ethan and great-grandchildren: Alexander, Nicholas, Shannon, Elinor, Caleb, Ella, Greyson and many step-great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter by marriage, Chelsea.

Helen M. De Lude

October 28, 1926 - October 2, 2023