Helen Irwin's Obituary
Helen Irwin was born to Jose Ramon Rivera and Caroline Zayas Rivera on September 16, 1929, in New York City, NY. She entered the gates of Heaven on June 15, 2020. She was 90.
Helen was salutatorian when she graduated from Walton High School in New York City in 1947. Besides New York, she lived in California, New Mexico, Indiana, Louisiana, Germany, Japan, and finally Washington State. She retired from the Army and Air Force Exchange Service in 1993 after many years service. After she retired, Helen worked for Designated Escrow and helped raise four of her grandchildren. She attended St. Francis Cabrini Church and was a member of “Pray and Play” where she and her friends would pray the Rosary and then afterward, play dominoes at a friend’s house. She was an excellent domino player and could beat the socks off her descendants. Helen loved the theater ever since she went with her father to the theater district in NYC as a child. She bought annual tickets for the Tacoma Playhouse and Tacoma Musical Theater and went regularly with her friends. She loved Frank Sinatra and cut school to see him on at least one occasion when she was a teenager in NYC. Once when she saw him in Las Vegas, she ran on stage to talk to him and was escorted off by security, but not before he asked her to meet him in the lounge after the show. She also saw Babe Ruth play at Yankee Stadium.
Helen was a beautiful and caring woman, always putting others before herself. She had a deep love for her family, making each one feel favored. She loved spending time with her friends, young and old. She was always onboard whenever there was fun to be had and savored her afternoon glass of wine. She was witty, full of spirit, had a smile that would light up a room, and enjoyed talking to others to learn their story. Helen always sought to cross borders with those around her instead of building walls. She mostly loved to see everyone happy and getting along. She would do whatever she could to make everyone know she loved them. It took only five minutes for anyone who met Helen to fall in love with her.
Helen was a woman of tremendous faith, a faith that she freely shared. She was a member of St. Francis Cabrini Church in Lakewood for half a century. She used her time and talent to serve Him and His Church. She will be remembered as a true disciple of Christ.
Helen will be missed by everyone who knew her. She leaves us life lessons we would do well to carry on. Love fiercely. Fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. Laugh as much as you can. Give whenever you can. Dance as though no one is watching. Be loyal. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Make new friends as you grow old so your mind stays young.
Helen is survived by her sisters, Norma Rivera Stewart and Amparo Rivera, a brother, Jose “Pucho” Rivera, her daughter and son-in-law, Bethany Llorens Jauhola and Michael Jauhola, her son, Jack Llorens, 8 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, John H. Irwin, her mother, Caroline Zayas Rivera, her father, Jose Ramon Rivera, and her sister, Elsie Rivera Ross.
In lieu of flowers, Helen's family would like donations to be made in her name to: Donations can be made to Cabrini Cuisine, which provides meals for the homeless.
Cabrini Cuisine
St. Frances Cabrini
5715 108th St SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
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