Helen Riley Donahue 08/12/2025

Helen Genevieve Riley Donahue passed away peacefully on August 12, 2025, at The Deerfield in New Richmond, WI, surrounded by her family. Proud of her heritage as a Riley, Donahue and 100% Irish, Helen lived a long and fulfilling life in Erin Prairie, WI. Helen was born in Hammond, WI on April 22, 1930, to Genevieve Hawkins Riley and Edward Riley. The youngest of five children, Helen’s childhood began on the family’s farm in Erin Prairie. Tragically Helen’s father died in a car accident in 1932, when Helen was just two years old. After Edward’s death, Genevieve moved the family to Hammond where she worked at night as a telephone switchboard operator. Money was tight and Helen’s older siblings went to work as soon as they were able to help pay the bills while young Helen often went to work with her mom. Helen forever treasured her mom, sisters Rosemary and Kelly, and brothers Jack and Ted. In 1948, Helen graduated from Hammond High School and went to work as a bookkeeper at the clinic in Baldwin, where she retired in 1992 after more than four decades.

Helen began dating Charles Patrick “Pat” Donahue in the late 1940s. They first met when they shared a crib as babies when the Riley family still lived near the Donahues in Erin Prairie. On September 12, 1953, Helen and Pat married in Hammond. They purchased the Donahue LaValle family farm a couple of years later and made their home on the dairy farm most of their lives. Helen raised six children, was a co-owner of the Donahue Dairy, worked at the clinic, and could whip up a meal for 20 in a jiffy. After their retirement, Helen and Pat moved into New Richmond in 2011.

Helen’s sharp wit and sense of fun brought much joy to her family and friends. Though Helen’s life was busy and not always easy, she rarely complained, was incredibly generous with her time and gifts, and was always up to something (usually with her sister Kelly at her side). Helen was devoted to her faith, her husband and children, her Irish heritage, her extended family of Rileys, Hawkins, Donahues, and LaValles, the St. Pat’s Catholic Church family, and her many many friends (including the Baldwin clinic bunch, her card playing buddies, the Seven Dwarfs, and her AZ snowbird community).

Helen was preceded in death by her loving husband Pat, her parents Genevieve and Edward, her parents-in-law Agnes and John Donahue; her siblings and their spouses, Jack (Ollie), Ted (Muriel), Rosemary (Les) Vanda, and Kelly (Lyle) Strand; Pat’s siblings and their spouses Jim (Edie), Mary (Phil) Hoffman, Paul (Ronnie), Marguerite (Bill) Maloney, Tom (Jo), Helen (Don) Hintz, and Frank.

Helen is survived by her devoted children, Mike (Michele), Joe (Keely), Terry (Deb Adams), Dennis (Jody Maxon), Colleen (Jeff Miller), Brian (Jennifer); grandchildren Jacque Garske (Jason Severson and their children Jaxon and Jalyn), Jack and Frank Donahue, Emma and Henry Miller, Riley, McKinley, Clare and Caleigh Donahue, and step grandchildren Andrew (Melissa) Schmidt, Sam (Renee) Schmidt, Emma Greenebaum (Jared and their daughters Aurora, Luna, Briella, and Flora), Alexis Ziarnik (Brandyn and their children Charlie, Solar, Henry, and St. August), Sam, Gabrielle, Addison, Avery, and Maya Lightburn. Helen is also survived by many wonderful nieces and nephews, relatives, and dear friends (including lifelong friend Mary Landry).

The family would like to thank the staff at The Deerfield for their loving care of Mom over the past 3 ½ years. We were truly blessed to have their support. We would also like to thank Cynthia Blader and the Westfields Hospital and Clinic care team as well Lakeview Hospice for their care.

Please join us for a celebration of Helen’s life. A visitation will take place from 4-7 pm on Thursday August 21st, 2025, followed by a prayer service at 7 pm at Cullen Crea Funeral Home in New Richmond. Mass of Christian Burial at 12 pm (noon) on Friday August 22, 2025, at Immaculate Conception in New Richmond. A visitation will take place in the church one hour prior to Mass and lunch will immediately follow Mass. The burial will be at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Erin Prairie after lunch. If you wish to wear a touch of green to honor Helen’s Irish heritage, please feel free to do so. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church – Building Fund in memory of Helen Donahue.

Funeral live stream: https://www.youtube.com/@icchurchlivestream7546/streams