Helen Lorraine Werner, Helen Lorraine Werner

Helen Lorraine Werner, 91, of 340 24th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, peacefully left this life to join her loving Savior and her husband, Paul, on Monday, Sept. 7, 2009, at Mercy Medical Center, following a brief illness. Services: 10 a.m. Friday at Saint Jude Catholic Church by Father Mark Reasoner. A 4 p.m. rosary and a 6:30 p.m. vigil service will be held Thursday at Teahen Funeral Home, where friends may visit Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. and after 9:30 a.m. Friday at the church.

Helen is survived by a daughter, Paula J. (Alden) Andersen; a son, Steve L. (Colleen) Werner; 5 grandchildren, Kim (Guy) Perry, Deana Kohlman (Rick), Brian T. (Tricia) Andersen, Stephen M. (Tammy) Andersen and Lori A. (Steve) Slaymaker; and 9 great-grandchildren, Jacob, Nick, Jon, Karley, Morgan, Austin, Alex, Haley and Sydney.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Paul J.; her father and mother; and a brother, Clifford William Carney.

Helen was born June 29, 1918, in Cedar Rapids, to William Jennings Carney and Mary Emma Hutton. She lived most of her life in Cedar Rapids, graduating from St. Patrick High School in 1936. On July 23, 1941, Helen married her school sweetheart, Paul Joseph Werner.

In her early years of employment, Helen worked at McCraith's Ice Cream Store and Kresge Dime Store. During World War II, she worked for Russell's Guide. Following Paul's return from the service, she was a devoted wife and mother. After the death of her husband, Helen began serving St. Jude Parish as sacristan. Her love of church was so much a part of her life, as evidence by her opening up the church for daily Mass, setting up the altar and caring for the church candles. The highlight of her service to Saint Jude was helping to prepare the time capsule for the new church and presenting it to Archbishop Daniel W. Kurcera on March 12, 1989.

Helen also focused on providing care to small children. Those whose lives she touched lovingly knew her as “Grandma Helen.” She was everything to her family, a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a wonderful example to her family with a giving of self, asking for nothing and a wonderful sense of humor.

As a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother she will forever remain in our hearts as a beautiful example of a life well lived in a loving and giving spirit.

Memorials may be directed to Saint Jude Parish for the purchase of their new Stations of the Cross.

Online condolences may be left for the family at

“What a wonderful life.”

- Helen Werner