Helen Ruth Chaput, nee Huck, 89 of Cahokia, Illinois born November 22, 1933 in the City of St. Louis, Missouri died March 26, 2023, at her residence. Special thanks to her daughter, Kay, and daughter-in-law, Sandy, who lovingly cared for her so she could remain in her home.
Helen was married to Francis "Dusty" Chaput for 54 years. They moved to Cahokia in 1959 and remained living there through their lifetimes. A closed-in porch was added to the back of the house where many happy times and celebrations were spent with family and friends.
She was a stay-at-home mom at first and then entered the workforce starting at Cerro and then continued on at AMAX which became Big River Zinc in Sauget for a total of 24 years. When she retired at the age of 65, they bought a camper and enjoyed the outdoors camping at Waterloo Sportsmen Club. They were members of the club so that meant helping out with the Haunted Trail every year.
They also enjoyed playing pinnacle for over 40 years and the noise they could make from playing cards. She continued playing poker on Saturday afternoons with her co-worker, Shirley Dunacan, and friends. She was always willing to play cards with you when you would ask her.
They were both involved with the Knights of Columbus and she enjoyed participating in their horseshoe and washer leagues. She might not have been their #1 player but you could see her having a good time laughing and just being with friends.
She was active in her parish of Holy Family participating in the choir and playing the handbells which was surprising but sounded so nice at mass. She must have enjoyed the singing as she could remember songs and would entertain everyone with her singing. She was also a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Community Service and took pride in helping with this organization.
She enjoyed exercising with the AOA (Active Older Adults) group and even worked at the Cahokia YMCA. She participated in the activities held there for the public in which she would dress up like a witch for the Haunted House and as an elf in the Christmas program.
Her family was the most important thing to her and there were many good times and memories as a family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis "Dusty" Chaput ; granddaughter, Katrina Welebob; grandson Craig Chaput along with her parents, Louis and Lorene Huck, and her only sibling, her sister, Rose Marie Hirth; fur baby rusty.
Surviving are her 6 children: Denise (Ken) Spisak, Cindi (Joe) Stonich, Kathryn "Kay' (Don) Busby, John (Sandy) Chaput, Kelly (Chris) Waeltermann and as she refers to her "Texas Family" her son, Dennis (Debbie) Chaput; her 10 grandchildren, Amy (Marcus) Garcia, Stacey (Chris) Reyes, Jason (Brandi) Chaput, Josh (Kelli) Chaput, Neil Loerch, Candice (Tony) Valentini, Ryan Chaput, Dustin Chaput, Ella Waeltermann, Justin Waeltermann; 16 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers or plants, a donation can be made for purchase of a memorial tree to be planted by the family or to Hospice of Southern Illinois who were there for two months providing assistance.
Friends may visit from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, April 3, 2023, at Braun Family Funeral Home, Columbia, Illinois. Funeral procession to leave the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2023, to Holy Family Catholic Church, Cahokia, Illinois for an 11:00 a.m. Mass of the Christian /Burial, with Father Carl Scherrer officiating. (The Mass will be live streamed on Facebook.com/CahokiaHolyFamily1699/) Burial will be in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.