Helen Marie Brekke

Full obituary pending at this time.Helen Marie Brekke, 86, Rockford, passed away Monday, April 18, 2016, in her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born September 3, 1929, in Pocahontas, the daughter of Elmer and Birdie (Allen) Matthews. Helen married Henry G. Teague in Pocahontas, Arkansas on January 12, 1946. He passed away on October 1, 1987. She then married Donald Brekke in Rockford on July 17, 1999. She worked at Amerock Corporation for many years and then for J.C. Penney’s in downtown Rockford and then at Colonial Village Mall. She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Helen enjoyed gardening around her home and swimming at the YWCA, but most of all she loved to spend time with her grandchildren. Special thanks to the doctors and staff at Northern Illinois Hospice for their kind and compassionate care.
Survived by her husband, Donald; her children, Carolyn Teague Mills of Leeton, MO, Georgia (Dennis) Teague Nettenstrom of Schaumburg, Denton (Natalie) Teague of Winnebago, and Stephanie (Don) Teague Rodd of Suwanee, GA; her step-daughters, Connie (Ted) Perrone of Rockford and Debra (Alan) Avino of Tucson, AZ; her grandchildren, Andrew (Gretchen) Mills, Sara (Ken Baker), Timothy (Lan) Mills, Christine (Jeremy) Salmi, Matthew (Erica) Nettenstrom, Katherine Nettenstrom, Brent (Nancy) Teague, Jeffrey (Ellen) Teague and Abigail Teague, Ryan Rodd, Brandon Rodd, and Nathan Rodd, Brandon (Nicole) Bradle; her great-grandchildren, Samantha and Joey Backer, Noah and Leah Mills, Audrey and Connar Mills, Hannah Nettenstrom, Paige and Levi Teague, Nicholas and McKayla Bradle; her sisters, Genevieve Batten of Acworth, GA and Shirley Seagraves of Pocahontas, AR; her brother, Bill (Linda) Matthews of Tulsa, OK; her sister-in-law, Barbara Matthews; several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents, her brothers, Raymond Matthews, Elmer “Sonny” Matthews, Jr., and Charles and her sister, Mary Elizabeth.
Funeral services will be at 11:30 A.M., Saturday, April 23, 2016, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 3300 Rural St. Rockford, with Reverend Jeff Fricke officiating. Burial in Scandinavian Cemetery. Visitation will be form 10:30 A.M until 11:15 A.M. on Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Carbone Cancer Center, 600 Highland Av. Madison, WI, 53792 or to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Arrangements by Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Rockford. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.