Helen M. Lester

Helen M. Lester, 92, Rockford, died Tuesday, February 26, 2008, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center.nbsp; She was born February 28, 1915, in Geary County, Kansas, the daughter of Albert and Agnes (Oliver) Moritz. She had lived in Rockford since 1969, coming from McLean, Virginia.nbsp; Helen married Frank J. Lester in Washington D.C. on September 29, 1951.nbsp; He died in Rockford on October 4, 2004. Helen was a secretary in the U.S. Maritime Commission from 1938 until 1952.nbsp; Then she devoted herself to being a wife, mother, and homemaker.nbsp; She attended Regina Caeli Priory in Rockford.nbsp; Helen was very devoted to the Catholic Faith and the Traditional Latin Mass, and she had prayed the Rosary daily since her marriage to Frank in 1951.nbsp; She and Frank had participated in the Pilgrim Virgin Statue devotion for over 20 years.nbsp; Helen was interested in nutrition for decades before it was in vogue. Helen is survived by her daughter, Mary Frances Lester of Rockford; her son, Michael (Carole) Lester of Loves Park; granddaughters, Vanessa (Dan) Blankenship, Ashley (Jared) Jury, Alexandra, and Erin Rose; step granddaughter, Marcie Turner; great granddaughter, Chloe Blankenship and step great grandson, Chris Blankenship; two sisters, Rose Ann Fisher of Olathe, Kansas and Pearl Munyer of Sacramento, California; two brothers, Raymond (Frances) Moritz of Wichita, Kansas and Robert (Carol) Moritz of Blue Eye, Missouri; sister-in-law, Terry Moritz of California; numerous nieces and nephews.nbsp; Predeceased by her parents, nbsp;two sisters, Irene Moritz and Edith Peyre and her brother, Warren Moritz. Requiem Mass will be at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, March 1, 2008, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford, Il 61108. nbsp;Burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation starting at 9:00 A.M. Saturday, with the Rosary at 10:00 A.M. Memorials may be made for Masses for the repose of her soul.nbsp;nbsp; To extend condolences to the family, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com.