Helen Catherine Bergen

Helen Catherine Bergen, 91, of Marietta, died Thursday (Dec. 24, 2009) at Heartland Nursing Home, Marietta.

She was born April 5, 1918, in Bellevue, Ohio, to Don and Julia Einsel. She graduated from Plymouth High School, Plymouth, Ohio, in 1936. Helen married James Ward Bergen on April 27, 1941. In 1951, they moved to Devola, where she enjoyed her family, home, and community for nearly 50 years. She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, and a former member of the Marietta Welfare League and the Women's Board of the Betsey Mills Club. After her husband died, she moved to Glenwood Retirement Community, where she spent the last 10 years of her life enjoying her many friends and her extended family.

She is survived by her daughters, Beth Joyce of Sylvania, Ohio, Jamie Vernon and her husband, Robert, of Marietta, and Rebecca Bergen and Dorsey Cheuvront Jr. of Marietta; five grandchildren, Elizabeth Reitz, Melinda Ford, Amanda Riess, Whit Sheard and Julia Joyce; five great-grandchildren, Victoria Riess, Laura Reitz, Alex Reitz, Madison Ware and Colt Lutz; and a brother-in-law, Don Davis.

Her husband, James, preceded her in death in 1998. She was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, Bev Joyce; a brother, Don Einsel; and three sisters-in-law, Dorothy Oyster, Lois Davis, and Louise Einsel.

A private service for family will be at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Dorothy A. Oyster Memorial Fund of the Marietta Community Foundation.

Arrangements are being handled by the Marietta Chapel of Cawley & Peoples Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting their Web site, listed below.