Helen Josephine Kasper

HURLEY, Wis. - Helen Josephine Kasper, (nee Severia Helen Misuraco), our mother, passed away peacefully at age 98 on Oct. 1, 2022, while a resident of Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley.

She was predeceased by her husband, Alexander Kasper; her eldest son, Darryl Anthony; her grandson, Max Kasper; and twin infant granddaughters along with her entire family of parents, Vincent and Josephine (Bruno); and 16 brothers and sisters. She was the longest living member of the Misuraco family.

Helen was a lifelong resident of Hurley, and a devoted Catholic in the service of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, where she served as a lector of the church also delivering communion to home-bound parishioners in the area. As a devotee of the Blessed Virgin, she faithfully prayed the rosary and relied on the power of the Novena to protect and care for her family.

Our mother was also very active in the community and could often be found going door to door of businesses gathering donations for the church raffles and bazaars, or selling tickets for anyone of the various local organizations. She was a very active board member of the Senior Center holding various positions throughout the years up into her early 90s.

But of all her greatest achievements, she was wholly devoted to her family and she showed her love through her incredible talent for cooking and baking our Italian favorites of homemade ravioli, gnocchi, biscotti, pizzelle, pies and all baked goods. No one cooked like mama and, no matter how many times she shared her special recipes with others, no one ever made it as good as she did. Her secret ingredient was never added to her recipe card only because that ingredient came from deep within her. It was her love. And if you left her house hungry, it was no one's fault but your own.

Aside from all her family duties and her community work, our mama also worked outside the home. In the early days, she waited tables at various local restaurants and businesses finally becoming a manager, and then later worked at Grand View Hospital as a seamstress until she retired.

Our mama also loved to travel and did as much as she could visiting family in Italy, seeing the sights of Europe and enjoying trips with relatives and her children. Her final journey began on Oct. 1st and she will be deeply missed by all of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and those that knew and loved her.

Helen is survived by her daughters, Bonnie Kasper, of Florida, Christine Kasper, Hurley, and her youngest son, Gary Kasper and wife, Ruth, Hurley; along with her grandson, Rich Kasper and Jamie Hellen, Gurney, and granddaughter, Tara (Kasper) Hendges and husband, Louis, Ramsay, Michigan; her great-grandchildren, Gabe, Ruby and Dresden; and all her nephews and nieces.

Our family would also like to thank all the healthcare workers from Avanti and especially the staff and nurses at the Villa Maria for their dedication to keeping mom healthy, happy and loved. 

You can rest now, mama. You've worked hard enough and accomplished much. We will miss you deeply.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 404 Iron St., in Hurley, with the Rev. Hrudaya Raju Sunkara, celebrant.

Rite of Committal and interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Luncheon will be served in the parish hall immediately upon return from the cemetery.

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, Michigan, is assisting the family with their arrangements. To send online condolences please go to lakesidememorialchapel.com.