Helen Kearns

Helen Kearns (nee Marrali) born January 11, 1928 passed peacefully in her home, comforted by the love and support of her four daughters, extended family, wonderful caregivers and hospice team, on the morning of April 3rd, 2023. Born in Cleveland, Ohio the daughter of Jean Scalise and Joseph Marrali, she was fifth of six children including Angelo, Marie, Phillip, William and John (Raymond). She is survived by her brother Raymond who lives in the Cleveland area with his wife and family, and her dear cousin Catherine Calabretta and her family. Helen was married on January 25, 1958 to Edward Leo Kearns (who passed on March 13, 2007) for 49 years. She has four daughters, Camille Kearns Rudy (Robert), Colleen Foraker (Jacob), Marie Ritland (David) and Christine Gelman (Jeffrey). She was blessed with eight grandchildren including: Morgan Rudy McCloskey, Dillon Edward Kearns Rudy, Blake Ritland, Victoria and Alexandra Foraker, Arielle, Tommy and Samantha Gelman, and one great granddaughter, Grace McCloskey. Having lived a long, healthy life focused primarily on family, her greatest joy was her daughters whom she adored. She was proud of all of them and their accomplishments. She was a strong, resilient woman who survived breast cancer in her 70’s and who was a wonderful role model for her family. As a lifelong learner and avid reader, she enjoyed books, music, travel, flowers and creating beauty in her surroundings. She studied philosophy in the Great Books program at the University of Chicago. She loved living in Tokyo, Japan in the mid-60’s where she learned Ikebana, and where her youngest daughter Christine was born. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at Burnett-Dane Funeral Home, 120 W. Park Avenue (One block West of Milwaukee Ave.) in Libertyville. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 121 E. Maple Avenue, Libertyville, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, 1140 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60607 www.donate.mercyhome.org or Little Sisters of the Poor, 80 W. Northwest Hwy. Palatine, IL 60067 www.littlesistersofthepoor.org For info: 847-362-3009 or share a memory at www.burnettdane.com.

Helen Kearns

January 11, 1928 - April 3, 2023