Helen Strimbel Zenz and her twin sister Violet entered this world Sept. 11, 1919, the youngest of the seven children of Francis and Henrietta (Jondro) Strimbel. Helen was proud of her roots in Monroe; both of her parents were from Monroe County and even though the last 11 years of her life were in the Bloomfield Hills area, her heart remained in Monroe.

On April 21, 1942, Helen married John Thomas Zenz at St. Mary’s Church in Monroe. By the providence of God they were able to enjoy 60 years of marriage before he died in May 2002. God blessed them with five children — (Msgr.) John Patrick of Holy Name and St. Thomas More Parishes; Pamela (George) Adamshick of Allentown, Pa.; Paula Deardurff of Lamont, Ill.; Priscilla of San Diego; and Peter (Ann) of Lake Leelanau. Helen had 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Helen worked as a bookkeeper and secretary at what was then called Monroe State Savings Bank, the same bank where her husband, John, worked for 44 years. After her youngest child, Peter, went off to school, she returned to the “work force” serving in the financial offices of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe and then later as parish secretary at her home parish of St. John the Baptist in Monroe. In her retirement, she and her late husband were active with the Monroe Lion’s Club and Meals on Wheels. They were daily Mass participants and found much consolation in the daily recitation of the Rosary.

In May 2002, Helen moved to St. Elizabeth Briarbank, Bloomfield Hills, where she enjoyed the loving care and religious atmosphere provided by the Daughters of Divine Charity. Once she needed skilled nursing care, she moved to Lourdes Nursing Home in Waterford; she found loving acceptance and quality professional care in the Lourdes community. It was there that she breathed her last under hospice care on Sunday evening Jan. 12, 2014, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Helen’s funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 20. Memorials are left to the discretion of the donor.