of Chelsea, MI, formerly of Chicago, IL; Detroit, Royal Oak, Beverly Hills, and Ann Arbor, MI
Age 93, died Monday, October 28, 2013 at Chelsea Retirement Community. She was born April 11, 1920 in Blanford, IN, the daughter of Ignatious and Benna (Vandis) Tomas.
Helen was a member of the Catholic church, though she attended the Lutheran church with her husband after their marriage. She was a homemaker and more. As a volunteer, Helen was active with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America while her children participated in these programs; with the American Field Service, placing foreign exchange students in the Royal Oak Schools; and with Christ Memorial Lutheran Church. She and her husband were early advocates of dignified resolutions to end-of-life issues and active with what is now the Funeral Consumers Information Society from its founding in 1961.
She was an artist, working in watercolors as an Impressionist. As an early advocate of Modern architecture, Helen worked with Detroit-based architect Don Paul Young to design her home in Royal Oak that was built in 1958 and noteworthy for its butterfly roof and extensive use of glass. For Young – whose body of work is now being recognized for its importance to Michigan Mid-Century Modernism – this likely was one of his earliest designs to have been built.
On August 4, 1945, Helen married Ralph E. Kreger in Detroit, MI and he preceded her in death on May 4, 2003. Survivors include a son Roderic L. (Betsy LaVier) Kreger of Satellite Beach, FL; a daughter Janet L. Kreger of Ann Arbor, MI; a niece and two nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents and her older half-brothers Ben and John Norris.
Helen’s ashes will be buried at Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park in Livonia. No memorial services are planned. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan Historic Preservation Network www.mhpn.org. Arrangements by Cole Funeral Chapel, Chelsea.