Helen’s life began on May 16, 1924, at her family home in Oronoko Township, the daughter of William Burch and Mabel Irene (Allen) McConaghy.

She attended Mt. Tabor grade school and was a 1942 graduate of Berrien Springs High School.

Helen went to work for Berrien Springs State Bank for eight years and on July 31, 1948, she married Willis A Prillwitz at the old Clay Street Baptist Church in Benton Harbor.

She worked for Van Buren State Bank from 1968 until 1985.

After retirement from the bank, Helen worked for Willis Accounting in Dowagiac for 13 years.

Throughout her marriage to Willis, they sold fresh produce at the Farmer’s Market in South Bend over a span of 55 years, retiring in 2007.

Helen attended Sister Lakes Community Church since 1954 and was actively involved, having been the treasurer and secretary of the church board, serving as a Sunday school teacher, Bible school teacher, Sunday school secretary, active in the women’s ministry and singing in the church choir.

Helen served on the Election Board in Cass County.

Her greatest joy was her family, which includes: her children Marlene (Leslie) Johnson of Apple Valley, Minn., Charlene (John) Schilling of Eau Claire and Steven (Alessandra) Prillwitz of Eau Claire; grandchildren, Ryan and Randall Schilling, Janelle (Brian) Doolittle, Meredith Johnson, Katelyn and Rebecca Prillwitz, Nicole Edwards and Aleksei and Jakob Prillwitz; great grandchildren, Noah Lewis, Jonah Brinager, Carter and Abigail Ryan and Joseph Schilling; nephews, Dennis and Dale McConaghy; niece, Sharon Hamilton; and sister-in-law, Phyllis (Olaf) Nannfeldt.

Helen, 85, went to her Heavenly home on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, from Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph.

She is preceded in death by her husband Willis in 2007, her parents and two brothers Robert and Warren McConaghy.

Her family will gather with friends on Tuesday April 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Yazel and Clark Chapel.

Her funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 7, at 10 a.m. at Sister Lakes Community Church led by Pastor Scott Stambaugh.

She will be laid to rest in Mission Hills Cemetery, Niles.

Memorial contributions in her name may be directed to Sister Lakes Community Church or Lakeland Hospice.

Please sign her guestbook and leave a memory of Helen at www.yazel-clark.com.