Helen Marie (Gordon) Conrad

Helen Conrad a lifelong resident of Elyria passed away on May 17, 2022, after a courageous struggle against a terminal illness. She was 78 years old. Helen was the eldest daughter of Earl and Betty Gordon. Not only did Helen excel at school, she also loved to read from a young age, especially stories of women who persevered. Friends and family are hard pressed to find photos of her as she developed a lifelong distaste to getting her picture taken or having people fuss over her. Although she had an infectious laugh and beamed to her family, the photo that accompanies her obituary is from her High School graduation which is one of the last times she voluntarily smiled for the camera. Helen graduated from Elyria Catholic High School in 1961.After marrying and having children, she then went on to have a long career in nursing.  Driven by her desire to help others, she earned an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from Lorain County Community . College in 1972 and began working as a Registered Nurse as part of the Labor and Delivery department at the former St. Joseph Hospital in Lorain. She eventually served as Head Nurse and as adjunct faculty at LCCC where she taught emergency obstetrics to first responders. After leaving St. Joseph Hospital, she went on to work for the Elyria Health Department providing prenatal care for mothers until she retired. Helen also attended Notre Dame College in Cleveland majoring in Theology. Since retiring, Helen and her husband, Gerald, spent many years being full-time RVers and traveling around the U.S. She was a beloved Nana to her thirteen grandchildren- Charlie, Brenda, Elaine, Gabriel, Molly, Manuel, Rustin, Xavier, Thomas, Annette, Rebecca, Isaac, and Sebastian. Helen loved to sew, making her young grandchildren pajamas and nightgowns. She enjoyed cooking and had taught several of her grandchildren how to make her favorite recipes. The love she had for her family was unmatched although enjoying a peanut buster parfait was a close second. Helen was a member of the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Elyria, serving several years on the Parish Council. Helen’s motto that, unfortunately, dies with her is, “You can do in anyway you want as long as it is my way.” Her guidance and wisdom is unparalleled, leaving a gap that’s impossible to fill. Survivors include her son Lawrence (Cynthia) of Grove City; her daughters Leslie (Paul) Jarvis of Florida and Robin (Phillip) Hanson of Cleveland; her sisters Kathleen (Ronald) Walker of Elyria and Gail (Joseph) Pribanic of Sheffield Village; brother Richard (Nancy) Gordon of Huron; 13 grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, a daughter, Aimee Beth, and her parents. Private internment of ashes will be at St. Mary’s cemetery in Elyria. A Mass will be offered for Helen on July 6, 2022, with a rosary at 8:30 AM and service at 9:00 AM at St. Agnes Church in Elyria. Arrangements were entrusted to the Laubenthal-Mercado Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elyria, 440-322-4626. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.laubenthalmercado.com

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