Helen Torrens

HELEN MAXINE (WENGER) (ANDERSON) TORRENS Cedar Rapids Helen Maxine (Wenger) (Anderson) Torrens, 84, passed away Feb. 4, 2017, from a long- term illness, Alzheimer's disease. Helen was born May 19, 1932, in Elgin, Iowa, to parents Charles and Margorie Wenger. The youngest of four, Helen was preceded in death by her brother, Russell Wenger; sister, Chrystal Shori; and sister, Corinne Gilson. Also preceding her in death were her first husband, Carlyle Anderson; son, Scott Anderson; and husband, Frank Torrens. Helen attended the University of Northern Iowa, then called the Iowa State Teachers College, receiving her degree in early education. She went on to teach kindergarten, but only for a year. She figured out she really didn't care much for 5-year-olds! Helen married Carlyle Anderson (Ki) in 1952. They lived in Cedar Rapids, where they raised their four children, Shelly Wirtz (Peter) of Sarasota, Fla., Deb Anderson (Tim King), Cedar Rapids, Scott Anderson (Rebecca), Omaha, Neb., and Kris Bushman (Bruce), Spokane, Wash. Helen was a homemaker for many years until she became employed by Northwestern Bell, then AT&T. She loved lunches out and get-togethers with her friends and co-workers whenever possible. Helen married Frank Torrens in 1993. She and Frank enjoyed traveling and spending most winters in Florida. They also enjoyed trips to Door County, Mich., Chicago, New York, Washington and Europe. Helen's greatest joy in life was her children and her husband, Frank. She was very grateful for the family support and love during the difficult stages of her illness. She looked forward to the daily calls from her children. It brought Helen much joy to her life. Her daughter, Deb, dedicated her time to help her mother and took on the role as a constant caretaker. Helen had a passion for cooking, reading and gardening. If she wasn't in the kitchen, she was outside tending to her flowers and landscapes. She loved having her grandchildren around helping with whatever projects she was working on. Whether it was baking a pie or pulling weeds, Helen was a perfectionist. She could have been a master gardener or a professional chef! Helen was known for having a zest for life. She loved wearing fancy hats, dancing, entertaining and flirting! One of Helen's favorite places was on their screened-in porch on Broadlawn Drive in Cedar Rapids. Many a Happy Hour or impromptu cocktail party was had on that porch. It was filled with family and her dear friends. Helen loved to entertain, creating new recipes to try out on everyone. She cooked, we cleaned! Many thanks to our dear friend, Illene Hathaway, who returned to Cedar Rapids from the East Coast to care for Helen these past few years. Her help in all matters has been greatly appreciated and, as did Helen, we love her very much. Helen is survived by three of her children, Shelly, Deb and Kris; as well as her grandchildren, Jason Anderson, Brooke Knipp, Emma Reeves, Abby Bushman, Zachary and Lauren Anderson; and great-grandchildren, Ellis and Macia Knipp, Chole Anderson and Hailey Reeves. Thank you to the dedicated staff of Prairie Hills Assisted Living and to her dear friend and neighbor, Bob Lewis. Thank you to West Ridge Memory Care Center staff and the staff of hospice for their kind and loving care of Helen. A Celebration of Life will be in May of this year. The time and place will be determined at a later date. Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked donations be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America at www.alz.org. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.