Helen M. Gillis Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Helen M. Gillis, 85, died Monday, Aug. 6, 2012, in Blue Water Hospice Home, Marysville. She was born June 3, 1927, in Port Huron to the late George and Grace Sherman. She attended school in Port Huron and Marysville, and was a 1945 graduate of Marysville High School. She worked for several years at Chrysler Corp. as a keypunch operator. She married Carl Gillis on Oct. 20, 1956, in Port Huron. He died Jan. 6, 2005. Helen was a longtime volunteer in the Cardiopulmonary Department at River District Hospital and helped with many hospital fundraising and health-screening events. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, cooking and watching her favorite television shows. She also enjoyed hosting her annual Algonac Pickerel Tournament cookout prior to the fireworks display. Helen was known as "Mom Gillis" to many of her daughter's friends and considered them her "adopted" children. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara, of Marysville; her sisters-in-law, Dorothy Sherman, Fresno, Calif.; Grace Gillis Hart, Algonac; and Mae Gillis and Mary Gillis, both of Port Huron; a special niece, Peggy Hale, of Pontiac; several additional nieces and nephews; her "adopted" children, Susan Hornberger and Linda Delgoff, both of Marysville; Annette Karageanes, Harrison Township; Robin Westerman, Macomb Township; and Michael Jacobs, Algonac. She is also survived by many close friends and her beloved cat, Timmy. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Marion Sherman; two brothers, Jack and Howard Sherman; a sister-in-law, Marion Lucille Gillis; and three brothers-in law, David Wesley Gillis Jr., William "Fred" Gillis and James "Frank" Gillis. Visitation will take place at Gilbert Funeral Home, Algonac, on Wednesday, Aug. 8 from 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Funeral services will take place Thursday, Aug. 9 at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, Clay Township. Pallbearers will be Michael Jacobs, Herman Hall, Bryan and Alex Hale, David Gillis and Dale Nevison.