Marian Meyers Hellstrom

New Orleans, Louisiana, formerly of Coal Valley, Illinois
Marian Hellstrom, 85, of New Orleans, Louisiana, formerly of Coal Valley, Illinois, died Thursday, June 10, 2010, in her home in New Orleans.
Private services will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens, East Moline. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline, is assisting the family.
The former Marian Fenor Myers was born June 21, 1924, in Coal Valley, Illinois, the daughter of Dr. William and Henrietta (Fenor) Myers.
Marian graduated from St. Katherine?s in Davenport, Iowa, and then Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, majoring in biochemistry. Following graduation, she worked as an analytical chemist at The Harris Research Center, Abbott Laboratories, and The National Institute of Health in Washington, D.C.
She married Ralph Hellstrom in 1948, in Coal Valley. When they started a family several years later, she made the decision to leave the professional world behind to devote herself entirely to raising their sons.
Following the death of her husband in 1986, she found love once again with Gil Kendall, a fellow church member and recent widower. They spent the next 18 years together traveling, entertaining friends, enjoying time with family members, volunteering their time and talents in the community, and, of course, playing bridge. They remained together until her death. Her final days were spent at home with family gathered at her bedside and Gil holding her hand.
As a Navy wife, Marian lived in several cities, including Arlington, Virginia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Omaha, Nebraska, and New Orleans. She was past-President of the Philadelphia Chapter of ROAL, a lifetime member of the Coal Valley chapter of the Eastern Star, a member of the Welcome Neighbors, Republican Women, Pachyderms, and was a volunteer with STAIR, gave over 1900 hours at Jo Ellen Smith Hospital in Medical Records, and volunteered at Touro-Shakespeare Nursing Home and Mary-Joseph Nursing home. She was also involved with several bridge clubs, and was a long-time member of Love Lutheran Church in New Orleans.
Despite all the time she gave to benefit the community, Marian will be remembered for her endless and unwavering love of family and friends, her genuine interest in each and every person she met, and most certainly, her heart-warming smile.
Marian?s final message to all was, ?As I am leaving you, my loving family and friends, where so much love and friendship was shown to me, I know I shall not lose you. There will be another home awaiting me ? old and new friends ? but you, my deal ones, I?ll keep in my heart forever.?
She is survived by sons and a daughter-in-law, William and Cheryl Hellstrom of Omaha, Nebraska, and Erik Hellstrom, of New Orleans, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, her ?husband?, Gil Kendall, and an almost-son, James Montford.
The family invites you to share stories and condolences and light a candle in Marian?s memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.