Shirley Ann Helinski (nee Smith) always said, “When It’s your time, it’s your time.” Shirley’s time was on August 29, after a challenging couple of months. Shirley was born in December 1936. Due to the early deaths of her parents, Herman Arthur Smith and Rose (Cipov), she and her sister, Helen, were raised by their grandparents, Herman J. and Louise Smith. They first lived on the original Schmidt/Smith family farm in Brighton, Wi. and then later during her teenage years, on her Grandfather's smaller retirement farm in Union Grove. Shirley triumphed over the adversities life brought and became the valedictorian of her high school class. She followed in her sister’s footsteps to become a registered nurse, graduating from the Milwaukee Hospital School of Nursing in 1957. Shirley married Kenneth Helinski in August of 1960 at Hope Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. They made their home in West Allis and were blessed with three children. Shirley would go on to earn her BSN from Alverno in 1980, taking weekend classes while also working and raising the kids.

Shirley frequently shared stories of her experiences working in orthopedics and in her specialty, pediatrics. She also worked for many years in the obstetrics department of Lutheran Hospital. Her final position was a nursing instructor at the Carroll College/ Columbia School of Nursing. Even with a busy career, and later, caring for grandchildren, she was an avid gardener and expert in needlework. Many award-winning crocheted and knitted afghans were given as gifts and donated to the Channel 10 Auction. Shirley was a woman of faith and found her final church home at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in West Allis, where she could be closer to her grandchildren’s activities. She was a volunteer at the church and the associated school. She very much enjoyed weekly Bible study, learning and sharing jokes in the process. She built a strong network of friends at the church and at the fitness clubs, where she was fierce on the treadmill and a regular on the bikes. Later, Shirley made her life at Village of Manor Park (VMP), where she should have won the "Most Beautiful Balcony” award if there were one.

Shirley is survived by her three children, Kevin (Sandra), Sherri (Brian), and Sarah (Jeff), her grandchildren Alexander (Macy and great-grandchild Sally), Claire, Colin, and Faith (Daniel and family), as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and their families and also special newly found relatives on both sides of the family. Shirley enjoyed all the research her son did in finding all these new family members and eventually getting together with them and making new cherished relationships. She was always up for an adventure.

 The family wishes to thank the caring administrative and patient care staff of VMP and VITAS Hospice for their help in the transitions until Shirley’s final hours.

Shirley will be missed, but she knew it was her time. When you see the color yellow, please think of a special memory you shared with Shirley and smile, as she is most definitely in the best of hands now.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Enduring Faithfulness Capitol Campaign Fund are suggested.