Helen K. Bigari

Helen was born on Sept. 25, 1924, in Iron River, the daughter of the late Nicholas and Alexandra (Popko) Cindrich. She attended the Iron River Schools, graduating with the Class of 1943. After High School, she moved to lower Michigan and worked at the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant. She was later employed by the Michigan Bell Telephone Company in Iron River as a switchboard operator. While raising her children, Helen became an independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Helen married Ernest Bigari on June 4, 1949, at the Assumption Church, and the couple made their home in Iron River. They celebrated 64 years together before Ernie preceded her in death on Aug. 16, 2013. Helen was a member of the St. Agnes Catholic Church. She found great purpose in growing her Christian faith through regular prayer, reading of the Scriptures, and participating in small group study.

Helen was a voracious reader who enjoyed authors from E.B. White to Charles Spurgeon. She shared her love of reading with grade school children by leading book discussions from The Great Books Foundation. Even in her 70s, she demonstrated her love of learning by becoming proficient in surfing the web and sharing information with family and friends.

Setting an example of the value in family gatherings, Helen created happy memories for her children and grandchildren by preparing and serving Sunday family dinners. Her quiet strength and witty humor will be greatly missed.

Helen is survived by her children, Jean Lundin of Iron River, Nick (Alice) Bigari of Crystal Falls, Marian (Tim) Novak of Iron River, Terese (Dale) Collins of Las Vegas, and Cathy Olson of Green Bay, Wis.; her sisters, Mary Guzowski of Marshfield, Wis. and Delores Kempa of Kingsford; 21 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Ron, in 2018.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, June 19, from 9 to 10:45 a.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron River. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church with Rev. Gregory Veneklase to offer the Mass of Christian Burial.

Interment will be at Resthaven Cemetery.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Helen K. Bigari online at www.jacobsfuneralhomeir.com.

Funeral arrangements are by the Jacobs Funeral Home, Inc. of Iron River.