Helen M. Parich, 103, Sartell (formerly of Hibbing)

August 8, 1912 - December 12, 2015

Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Helen M. Parich, 103, of Sartell, formerly of Hibbing, will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Hibbing. Fr. Nick Nelson will officiate and burial will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery. Helen passed away Saturday morning at the St. Cloud Hospital surrounded by family. There will be a visitation one hour prior to services Saturday at the church. Arrangements are being made with Miller-Carlin Funeral Home, St. Cloud.

Helen was born on August 8, 1912 to Matthew and Helen (Dolinar) Laurich in Hibbing. She was raised alongside nine siblings. On Aug. 4, 1934 she married John Parich at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hibbing. Helen worked as a manager of a grocery store for a few years before they began their family and she remained home to take care of everything. She was an excellent cook, she enjoyed socializing, and she knew how to entertain guests. Helen was very particular and a perfectionist in everything she did. She was hardworking and was often the first one up in the morning and the last to bed in the evening. Helen loved to play card games, she enjoyed poker, and was an excellent bridge player. She proudly won the Bridge Olympic Gold Medal of 1981 on the Iron Range. Helen was spunky; she enjoyed dressing up, donning red lipstick and a red dress. Her relationship with John was a special one and, in order to remain close she became his fishing partner; and she was good at it! She was a strong-willed, practical woman with a heart of gold. Helen had a special way of making each person in her family feel as though they were her favorite. She was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church in Hibbing.

Helen is survived by her daughters Patricia (Lawrence) Johnson, St. Cloud; Helene (Ronald) Remington, Annandale; her sister Jenny Perpich, Hibbing; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; as well as many other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband John in 1981; her parents Matthew and Helen Laurich; her sisters Sr. Matthew, OSB, Fran Turk, Ann Debelak, Polly Solmonson; and her brothers Matt, Ludwig, Joe, and Henry Laurich.