Sr. Helen Colette Melkon, OP, the former Sr. Mary Reginald, died at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Pontiac on Feb. 27.

Helen Colette was one of nine children born to John and Sophie (Mraz) Melkon in Perth Amboy, N.J. Helen entered the former congregation of Dominican Sisters of Oxford (then in Pontiac) on Feb. 9, 1940. Helen was a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Perth Amboy at the time of her decision to follow in the footsteps of her older sister, Sr. Mary Jerome Melkon.

Sr. Melkon earned her B.A. in home economics and history from Siena Heights University in Adrian. She also did graduate study work at the University of Detroit, Aquinas College in Grand Rapids and Marygrove College in Detroit. For 50 years, Sr. Melkon ministered as a teacher at SS. Cyril and Methodius and SS. Andrew and Benedict (Detroit), Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary (Flint), Our Lady of the Lakes (Waterford), SS. Cyril and Methodius/St. John (Windber, Pa.), St. John the Baptist (Central City, Pa.), St. Anthony (Kenosha, Wis.), and Holy Trinity (Ironwood).

Because of her great love of children, after retiring from teaching, she voluntarily began a day care program at the Pontiac Business Institute (PBI) in Oxford where students brought their pre-schoolers. Once the PBI closed its doors, Sr. Helen Colette and her sister, Sr. Mary Jerome, chose to move to Imlay City, where they began a ministry of presence at Sacred Heart Parish. While at Sacred Heart Parish, the two sisters created many beautiful craft items that were donated to St. Mary’s Retreat Center (a ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Oxford) for the gift shop.

After the sudden death of Sr. Mary Jerome, Sr. Helen Colette opted to return to the Oxford Motherhouse and helped in marriage preparation.

Sr. Melkon is survived by her brother, Edward, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by brothers John, Frank, and Joseph and sisters, Mary Patrick, Elizabeth Schumer, Ann Franko, and Sr. Mary Jerome.

The wake and funeral Mass were held at the Oxford Motherhouse on March 1 and 2. Burial followed at Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery on the Motherhouse grounds.

Memorials in Sr. Melkon’s name may be sent to Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Drive, Columbus, OH 43219-2098 or submitted securely online at www.oppeace.org.