Submitted by: Dan Rich

Helen J. Trippel

Oct. 26, 1924 - Jan. 30, 2003

South Bend Tribune 2/2/2003

Helen J. Houghton Trippel, 78, of Houston, Texas, formerly of Mishawaka, Ind., passed away peacefully in the cardiac care unit at Methodist Hospital in Houston on Thursday, Jan. 30, with her husband, Richard C. Trippel, and daughter, Diane Hughey, by her side. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who will be sorely missed. Helen was born in Elkhart, Ind., on Oct. 26, 1924, and spent most of her life in Mishawaka.

She is survived by her devoted family including her husband, Richard; daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Walter Hughey of Vienna, Va., and her son and daughter-in-law, Michael Houghton and Ann Joyce of Columbus, Ohio. Helen's children presented her with four wonderful grandchildren, Tony Hughey of Singapore and Jessica Hughey of Harper's Ferry, W.Va., and Nicolas and Meredith Joyce-Houghton of Columbus, Ohio. Helen is also survived by two brothers, Joseph and Harry Tagliaferri of Mishawaka; three nieces; 10 nephews; several cousins; and by an aunt, Bernice Sedam of Orange Park, Fla. Helen is also mourned by the Trippel family, as well as by numerous friends.

Helen was preceded in death by her first husband, Clarence "Bud" Houghton. They married in San Diego, Calif., on May 8, 1943, and were together until his death on Dec. 30, 1983. She married Richard on May 30, 1990, in Houston, and spent the rest of her life with him. The family wishes to express its gratitude to the doctors and nurses at both the Methodist Hospital Cardiac Care Unit in Houston and at Healthwin Specialized Care in South Bend, Ind., for making Helen as comfortable as possible and for all of their support during the past few years.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in St. Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, Ind., with Rev. Fr. William Schooler officiating. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park where Helen will be laid to rest next to her first husband, Clarence. Visitation will be 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the Thallemer-Goethals Funeral Home, 503 West Third Street, Mishawaka, where a Rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the Mass in church on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in her name to Healthwin Specialized Care, 20351 Darden Road, South Bend, IN 46637.

Editor: She is the daughter of Antonio and Sistine Cittadine.