Bell, Helen Margaret (Frericks)

Helen Margaret (Frericks) Bell, 90, of Dyersville, passed away peacefully at 9:25 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, at Oak Crest Nursing Home surrounded by family. Services will be held at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, followed by burial in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Kramer Funeral Home. Catholic Daughters of America Court St Rose #350 will lead the rosary in remembrance of Helen at 4 p.m. and a memorial prayer service will be conducted at 5 p.m.

Helen Margaret Frericks was born on Dec. 20, 1921, in Dyersville, Iowa, the oldest of five children born to Edward and Margaret (Weber) Frericks. Her first through third grade school years were at a country school and then she finished her elementary schooling at St. Francis Xavier Grade School. She graduated from St. Francis Xavier High School in 1940. Helen's first job was at the Ben Franklin store in Dyersville. After graduating, she worked at the National Tea Grocery Store in Dyersville. During World War II, she was promoted to the manager of the National Tea Grocery store in Dubuque. Helen held that position until she met her sweetheart, James Bell. They met at a dance at the Dyersville Park Pavilion, when her close friend, Rose Mary Bell introduced Helen to her brother. Helen married James on Jan. 26, 1944, at the St. Francis Xavier Basilica. Together they farmed southwest of Dyersville for almost 40 years and were blessed with six children. Upon retiring from farming in 1981, they moved to Dyersville. Helen worked part-time at Kids World clothing store and found great joy in volunteering. For many years, Helen volunteered on Thursday mornings to clean church. One of her favorite volunteer responsibilities was driving the priests for funerals for Kramer Funeral Home. In 2004, they moved to the Ellen Kennedy Living Center in Dyersville. Jim and Helen celebrated 67 years of marriage before Jim passed away in June 2011 and Helen moved to Oak Crest Nursing Home.

Helen was a caring woman with strong faith. She believed firmly in the power of the rosary and always carried her rosary in her pocket, ready for any emergency. She was an active member of the Catholic Daughters of America Court St. Rose #350 for 69 years.

Family was very important to Helen. She took great pride in preparing the best homemade meals for her family and guests. She always set a beautiful table. She was well known for her famous chocolate chip cookies, beautifully decorated Christmas cookies, divinity candy and her apple pie. She even won the Delaware County Pork Producers Best Pie Contest. Helen was very meticulous in all phases of her life. She was a great card player and could play with the best. She loved to teach her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to pray, play cards and bake. Helen was known among her family for her beautiful flowers, large garden, playing solitaire, completing word search puzzles and having an immaculate home. She also enjoyed traveling with Jim - especially to visit her daughters and grandchildren.

Those left to cherish her memories are her children, David (Patti) Bell of Dyersville, Bob (Joyce) Bell of Dubuque, Janet Bell of Glastonbury, Conn., Joyce Rooney of Annapolis, Md., Jane (Dick) Schmitz of Pittsburgh, Pa. and Ken (Michelle) Bell of Dyersville; her 12 grandchildren, Amy (Pat) Calvert of Urbandale, Carmen Bell of Chandler, Ariz., Molly Bell of Chandler, Ariz., Emily (Paul) Scranton of Bettendorf, Sean (Alyson) Rooney of Houston, Texas, Heather (Mike) Gaven of Hurst, Texas, Matt Rooney of Dallas, Texas, Betsy (Mike) McCarren, Sarah (Dustin) Smith and Rachael Schmitz, all of Pittsburgh, Pa., Brandon (Nikki) Bell of Earlville and Lisa Bell of Madison, Wis.; stepgrandchildren, Gretchen (Rich) Schwerdtfeger, Shanghai, China and Valerie (Brian) Ciotti, Columbus, Ohio; 14 great-grandchildren; and seven stepgreat-grandchildren.

Also surviving are one brother, Roy (Ruth) Frericks of Dyersville; brother-in-law, Howard Konzen of Dyersville; sisters-in-law, Velma Frericks and Rosemary Frericks, both of Dyersville, Edith Kedley of Dubuque, Kay (Vern) Gansemer of Sussex, Wis., Marian Bell and Arlene Bell both of Dyersville, Betty Bell of East Dubuque, Ill., and Laura Willenbring of Farley; and a brother-in-law, Tom (Jeanette) Bell of Dyersville.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James; her parents, Edward and Margaret Frericks; her two brothers, Lavern Frericks and Elmer Frericks; her sister, Rose Mary Konzen; her parents-in-law, Clarence and Olive Bell; her brothers-in-law, John Bell, Herbert Bell, Louis Bell, Don Willenbring and Orland Kedley; and sisters-in-law, Vernita Frericks and Rose Mary Willenbring.

The family would like to thank the caring staff at Oak Crest Nursing Home, the Ellen Kennedy Living Center and Hospice of Dubuque for their excellent care.

Memorials in Helen's honor will be given to St. Francis Xavier Parish, Oak Crest Nursing Home or Hospice of Dubuque.

Online condolences can be left at .

Published in The Gazette Oct. 24, 2012.