Ellen J. Helgren
lgren, age 83, lifelong Ishpeming resident, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021, at UP Health System Bell in Ishpeming.
Ellen was born in Ishpeming on August 21, 1937, daughter of the late Elizabeth (Poirier) and Adelore St. Andre. She was a graduate of the Ishpeming High School, Class of 1955 and received her degree from NMU in 1956 with the Universities first Practical Nursing Class.
Ellen worked as an LPN at Bell Memorial Hospital Ishpeming for 27 years, retiring in 1991.
She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where she sang in the church and funeral choirs for many years. She enjoyed reading, knitting and spending time with family and friends.
She had been a charter member of the Jasper Jessabelle’s Red Hat Group, along with a charter member and first Vice President of the Junction Community Club.
Ellen is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth Ann “Lisa” (Duane M. Larson) Helgren-Larson of Louisville, KY; Suzanne (Craig) Bergren of Bemidji, MN; son Michael P. (Sharon Suardini) Helgren of Ishpeming; 3 grandchildren, Brian (Meagan) Larson of Louisville, KY; Beth (Duane Ensor) Larson of Louisville, KY; Abby (Richard Ingebretsen) Bergren of Washington DC; and 7 great-grandchildren.
Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, George R. Helgren, whom she had married on Oct 11, 1958 and two sisters, Patricia Miller and Alice St. Andre.
The family will greet relatives and friends at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ishpeming, on Monday, April 26, 2021, from 10:00am-11:00am, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am with Fr. Dan Moll officiating. Interment will take place at the Channing Cemetery.
For those attending please adhere to the wearing of a mask and the current social distancing standards due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The Mass will also be livestreamed, which can be found at ishpemingcatholic.com/ live beginning at 10:55am the day of the Mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Beacon House, 1414 W. Fair Ave., Suite 50, Marquette, MI 49855 or at upbeaconhouse.org. Ellen’s obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.