Obituary for Helen Josephine Aanensen

Helen Aanensen, 80, a high school English, Drama, and Spanish teacher for more than 10 years until retiring in the 1990s, died February 15, 2010 at the Good Samaritan Center in West Union after a long illness. Born on October 6, 1929, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, to John and Josefina Sullivan, Mrs. Aanensen taught at schools in Oxford Junction, Union-Whitten, and Sigourney before retiring to West Union. She is preceded in death by a daughter, Jane Ellen Aanensen, and her husband, Gordon Aanensen. Survivors include her sister, Janet McGirr of Montreal, Canada; her brother, Roger Sullivan, of Toronto, Canada; eight daughters, Mary Wright (David) of Minneapolis, MN, Nancy Heldner (Franz) of New Orleans, LA, Patricia Seavey (Charles) of Sante Fe, NM, Joan Vagts (Mark) of West Union, Wendy Duff (James) of Cedar Falls, Ingrid Davitt (Michael) of Silver Spring, MD, Ruth Ruchotzke (Rick) of Bettendorf, and Leslie Kruse (Keith) of Alexandria, VA; fourteen grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. A private ceremony and inurnment will be held on Friday, February 26, 2010.