Email  Print

Helen Marguerite Revel

Helen Marguerite Revel, born Feb. 24, 1926, at home in Santa Rosa, to Chris and Marie Strong, natives of Denmark. Helen was the youngest of 10 siblings, Marian, Albert, Mabel, Harry, Chris, Roy, Olga, Gilbert and Betty, survived only by Mabel. She grew up in Kenwood, graduated from Dunbar Union in Glen Ellen and Santa Rosa High School (Class of ’43) before working in Santa Rosa and San Francisco.

Helen married the love of her life, Marcel Revel, in San Francisco in 1949 and they made their home there for more than 61 years while she remained a country girl at heart. A determined woman who lived up to her strong name, she was an incredible cook, homemaker and volunteer who reminded her children that they were Danish as well as French.

She was the beloved mother of Ed (Karen Ricketts), Bob (Tracy), Jackie Revel McInnis (Rod) and Roger (Janice) and devoted Granny to Brendan (Lauren), Justin, Bernadette (Chris), Girard, Corinne (Mike), Callie, Alex, Christie, Andrew and Robby as well as great-grandchildren, Marcel, Maddy and Charlie.

The family thanks the Rev. John Sakowski for his kindnesses and the CPMC Pacific staff for their caring as she fought lymphoma.

Helen died in peace on March 30, 2011 just hours after her husband had gone to heaven to welcome her. Please see Marcel’s obituary for services.