Helen Jean Ko

KO, HELEN J. Kalamazoo, MI Died Wednesday afternoon, June 13, 2012. Helen Jean Wong was born October 4, 1932 in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada. She married her husband, Howard Ko in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on August 19, 1956. Helen loved sewing gifts for her friends and family, gardening and ballroom dancing with Howard, tap dancing and country line dancing into her seventies. She belonged to and had many dear friends at the Tuesday Book Review Club and West Hills Tennis Club and volunteered at many organizations such as the Winchell School Library. She was a woman in constant motion with a beautiful generous spark that touched family, friends and strangers equally. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon and Dorothy Wong; brother Richard Wong and sister Joyce Leung. Helen is survived by her beloved husband Howard Ko, three children Leonora Ko (partner Dr. Nelson Brady), Barry (Sharon) Ko, Al (Jennie) Ko, grandchildren Ben, Tyler, Jillian and Lizzie Ko, brothers Stanley (Doris) Wong, Tony (Margie) Wong, Parker (Marilyn) Wong, Dr. William (Cathy) Wong, Gee Wong, sister Jeannie Wong (Steve Newberg), brother-in-law Norman (Lisa) Leung, sister-in-law Lorea (Guy) Delain and numerous nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held 6 to 9 pm Friday, June 15, 2012, at 2nd Reformed Church, lower level in the adult ministries room. Memorials may be directed to the West Michigan Cancer Center, Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Special gratitude to Dr. Liepman and the staff on 4th floor Bronson Hospital.