Helen Borows

Helen Borows was born on April 20, 1928 in Davenport, Iowa, and died peacefully on July 25, 2023.

She grew up in Davenport with both of her parents and with an older sister, Margaret. From there, she attended Cornell University, Carthage College, and graduated from the University of Iowa, at Iowa City (she was a long-time Hawkeyes fan) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. Always learning, she took various continuing education classes throughout her career.

In June 1958, she married Walter Borows. Early married life brought her to Kankakee, IL for several years, before moving to Park Ridge, IL in the mid 1960s.

Helen started her teaching career in the suburbs of Chicago, first with developmentally challenged students, then settling on 4th grade; she ended her long career at Carpenter Elementary School in Park Ridge.

She had 3 sons: Mark, Noel and Kurt, and she raised them while working full-time.

Helen was active in St Luke’s Lutheran Church (Circle Group and accounting group), and numerous organizations, including 20th Century Club of Park Ridge, AAUW (American Association of University Women), and WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Church in America), as well as charity groups.

She was a “morning person” and she enjoyed playing the piano, going to the theatre and concerts, listening to Lawrence Welk, watching the Chicago Bears, arranging dinner parties, growing geraniums, and sending out birthday and get-well cards every month.

Helen enjoyed travel, with her favorite destinations being Hawaii, Alaska, Europe, and Las Vegas (as well as cruises), and she really tried to win money at the local Chicago-area casinos. Her primary doctor said that she could often be a “feisty” patient.

She was preceded in death by her father, mother, sister and husband, and she is survived by her 3 sons and their families, and a first cousin in Iowa.

Visitation will be held at Ryan-Parke Funeral Home, 120 S Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, on Monday, July 31, 2023, from 3 to 8 pm. The funeral service will be held at St Luke’s Lutheran Church, at 205 N Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, at 11 am on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org in memory of Helen.

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