Mrs. Helen Louise Pinches 102, of Keystone Heights

October 2, 1919 - April 22, 2022

Helen Louise Pinches (nee Pile) October 2, 1919 - April 22, 2022 Helen Louise was born on October 2, 1919, to Katherine Welker and Lionel Archibald Pile. She was the last of their six children - Arthur, Alice, Robert, Lawrence and Kenneth. She graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1937 and went to work in the family business – Hough Bakeries – until she married Charles William Pinches, in May of 1941. Upon their marriage, Helen and Chuck moved to Lewiston, New York, where they lived for nearly 40 years. The year after their marriage, children began to arrive – Kay (Katherine) in 1942, Muriel in 1943, Bill in 1946, Ruth in 1950 and Charlie in 1955. Helen’s Christian faith was an integral part of who she was. She was raised in that faith but made it personal. She put it this way: “When nearly 17 years old I committed myself and my future to Jesus Christ, owning Him as Savior and Lord.” Helen and Chuck were a vital part of the Christian Assembly in Niagara Falls, Ontario, where Chuck had been raised. Their Christian friends led them to an idyllic vacation spot in the cottage country of Ontario. They bought a cottage in 1958 and spent some time there every summer. Helen continued to go north each summer as long as she was able. The cottage is still in the family and is a place of wonderful family memories and of great, life-long friendships. Though Helen did not work – at least for pay – outside of her home, she was not without a career. She volunteered with the local chapter of the American Red Cross in the local hospital. Before long she was organizing the Tuesday volunteers, then all the hospital volunteers and finally serving as the volunteer coordinator of all the Red Cross volunteers in Niagara County, NY. In that capacity she was made a member of the Board of the local Red Cross. She only retired from these duties after Chuck retired and they began the new portion of their life journey – which led them to Florida. They settled at Shepherd Retirement Community in Frostproof – living there from 1980 until 2000 when Chuck passed away at the age of 87. Helen was 80 at the time and she wanted a place with more people and activities and with an assisted living option. So, in 2003 she came north to Keystone Heights to Park of the Palms and settled in to her new home on Park Drive. Helen was always a ‘doer” in whatever place she found herself. In Frostproof she was secretary to the Board of the Frostproof Gospel Church. She was also secretary and then Chair of the local residents’ council and involved with the local Shepherd newsletter. When she came to the Park she continued with the same kind of activities – serving on the residents’ council as secretary and Vice Chair; leading the women’s prayer meeting for many years and starting, writing and editing the local monthly newsletter: Palm Prints. Helen had another talent for which many will remember her. She had a beautiful soprano voice. She sang in church, at weddings and funerals and – most memorable for her children – all around the house! Some years before her death, Helen wrote out some notes about her life. She ended her notes with this expression: “It has always been my wish that I could be a servant – first to the Lord and then to others.” Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, daughter Muriel and son William. She leaves behind daughters Katherine and Ruth, son Charles, daughter-in-law Robin and son-in-law, Thomas. She will be remembered with love by her 14 grandchildren and their spouses, her 28 great grandchildren (one just born) and one great, great granddaughter. Donations in her memory can be made to Park of the Palms, 204 Maranatha Road, Keystone Heights, FL 32656, His Mansion Ministries, 395 Wolf Hill Road, Deering, NH 03244 or Christian Missions in Many Lands, 2751 18th Ave, Wall Township, NJ 07719.