Helen Claire Parkes Speir (AKA: Tuffy, Blossom, Nellie and Grandma Nel), 90 of La Grange, Illinois passed away peacefully on May 27th at Adventist Medical Center of La Grange with her children and grandchildren close by.

Helen was born on July 1st, 1931, in Berwyn, Illinois to Raymond and Edna Parkes, one of four children (Virginia, Mary and twin sister Ruth). A lifelong resident of La Grange, she lived in her home on the 300 block of South Catherine for 85 years until a kitchen fire two days prior to her passing displaced her and her devoted daughter and caretaker, Ginnie Speir. Helen attended Cossitt School, Lyons Township High School, Lyons Township Junior College (Tick Tock Tech) and The University of Illinois where she was a cum laude graduate in Elementary Education and a proud member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. After graduating from U of I, she taught first grade at Spring Avenue School and was an American Airlines stewardess before she and her husband, George G. Speir III, settled down to raise their six children and care for her mother in the home she grew up in.

Helen was a humble yet ambitious women who touched the lives of many people in the La Grange community. She taught love and respect for everyone and led quietly by example every day of her life. She had a seemingly endless supply of energy and desire to serve her family, her community and her church (First Presbyterian Church of La Grange). She volunteered for a wide variety of programs, charities, and clubs for over 60 years including Infant Welfare Society, Girl Scouts, Brookfield Zoo, Sunday School, church deacon, Garden Club, Pi Beta Phi, room mother, foreign exchange student programs, volunteer tutoring at Cossitt School and much more. She only slowed some of her volunteering to help raise her oldest grandchildren, caring for them 5 days a week with her husband George.

She was an avid sports fan and could be heard around the block cheering for the Cubs and attended many games with her father, including a 1945 World Series Game. She was also a diehard fan of The Fighting Illini and LT basketball and was a court side fixture at many home games. She also found great pleasure tending to her garden and spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking.

Beloved wife of George G Speir III (deceased), devoted mother to Geoffrey (Laurie), Ginnie, Jamie, Chris (Sherry), Susie and Beckie (Rino) and proud and loving grandmother to Shannon (Zach), Randie, Ryan, Taylor, Izzie, Pellegrino, Dash, Chase and Lucca. She was a loving sister, aunt, friend and neighbor.

A memorial service is being planned in the coming months so that all members of her extended family and friends can attend to celebrate a life lived full of love for everyone she met.

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