HELEN VARNEY EUSTIS

Helen was born on Nov. 4, 1938 to the late O.B. and Evelyn (Varney) Eustis in St. Joseph, Missouri. Her formative years took her from one end of the country to the other following her father’s career. She graduated from Pendleton High School, Pendleton, Oregon in 1957 and moved with her family to Alpena, Michigan the day after she had her diploma in hand. Settling in, she went to Alpena Community College and obtained a job at Besser Co.

But challenges grew and defiance continued and independence was desired, so she took to the big city where she attended Wayne State University and worked for several years at Western Electric. She also was a bus driver for Ann Arbor Public Schools and, after returning to her beloved North Country, for the Alpena Public Schools, from which she retired. She loved her kids and for years would say “He/she was on my bus” and continue with a story about them — always with her signature language.

Helen was, however, more than what she did — she was a unique individual who was loved by many. She was challenging, shoot-from-the-hips, opinionated, grumpy (at times), but also kind, loving, generous (to a fault), a voracious reader, had beautiful penmanship, seldom said a sentence without a swear word in it and a loyal friend. A true “curmudgeon,” she lived frugally but would (and did) give friends and family literally the shirt off her back. She was on every sucker list in America which was evidenced by the pile of third-class mail on her dining room table. Through years of failing health, she fought strongly and valiantly to live, despite multiple surgeries and treatments. Her nephew called her a “damn Warrior” and her vascular surgeon said he had never had a patient fight as hard to stay alive despite having been to hell and back. She never missed an opening day of deer season.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Samuel Finlay Eustis, a dear friend Nancy Fiendt and many pets of all kinds whom she loved so much. She is survived (and deeply missed) by a sister, Geneva (Ginny) Eustis French (Howard) and her beloved nieces and nephews Sean Finlay Eustis and Megan Eustis Scott of Pico Rivera, California; Scott Howard French (Sherri) of White Lake, Michigan; Dallas Ann Tomlin of Mount Prospect, Illinois; and Ryan Eustis French (Stephanie) of Lombard, Illinois. Also surviving are her great-nieces and -nephew whom she adored and who filled her life with happiness and love: Alexa Carlyn Stauske and Anika Eustis French of White Lake, Michigan; Evelyn Lee Tomlin of Mount Prospect, Illinois and Annette (Annie) Marie French and Jackson Kroupa French of Lombard, Illinois. Also surviving is her parrot, Rainbow Dash.

Special thanks from those who survive to her wonderful, amazing group of friends and neighbors including Roz and Jackie Johnson, Judy and Gene Reiman, Bev Rousseau, Dawn and Al Skiba, Arlene and Frank Monaco, Kathy Raniszewski, and Mark and Jessie Leavitt.

Also, to McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey where she received kind and caring attention many, many times, and who allowed her sister to be with her when she died even during this difficult time; to the staff at Petoskey Surgeons, PC especially Dr. Anton Sharapov whom she trusted and respected deeply and Heather for all of her above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty help. To Kristine Spicer and the entire staff at LeFave Pharmacy for their hard work to help Helen with her medication and to always asking her sister about Helen’s well-being stating “we just love Helen.” To her hairstylist Sarah McLaren and to her cleaning lady, Mary.

She deserves a Memorial Service to celebrate the person she was, but the future of social distancing may prevent that. So, please remember her with a joke, a story, a swear word or two, a laugh, a card, a memory or a memorial to the Alpena County Animal Facility, 1110 DeVere Drive, Alpena, Michigan, 49707 or online at alpenacountyanimalfacility.com. Online condolences can be registered at www.mcwilliamsfh.com

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course.”