Helen Kennedy of Littleton, passed away from heart failure on January 28, 2023, just weeks before her 97th birthday. Her daughters, Susan and April, were at her side when she joined her husband James, and daughter Becky on her journey to Heaven.

Helen is preceded in death by her husband, James Kennedy, daughter Becky, Helen’s parents Susie and John Sinicki, sisters Mary and Margret, and brother Johnnie. She was the matriarch and oldest surviving member of the Sinicki and Kennedy families.

Helen is survived by her children: Michael (Deb) Kennedy, Daniel Kennedy, Susan (Ed) Tinkey and April (Tom) White; six grandchildren: Eddie Tinkey, Shaun (Rachel) White, Crystal (Brannan) Lonsdale, Courtney (Christopher) Young, Heather (Mikael) Gustafson and Ryan (Serina) Tinkey; nine beloved great-grandchildren: Hailey and Reece Tinkey, Ewan White, Kal and Kol Lonsdale, Sophie and Aria Young, Finn Gustafson, and Dagne Tinkey. Extended family includes Peggy, Danny, Adelynn, and Carter Malcomb, Erin and Jalen Wheeler and Taven Schaefer.

Helen was born in Globeville, Colorado on February 24, 1926. After graduation from Annunciation Catholic High School, she worked in the Payroll Department at Gates Rubber Company for five years. As best friends, Helen’s sister Mary and James’s sister Marydell, believed Helen and James would be a perfect pair so they decided to introduce the two. James had accepted a new job with the State Patrol in Grand Junction and was planning to move in just a few months. So, after knowing each other for only three months, the new couple decided to not waste any time; they married at St. Joseph’s Catholic Polish Church in Globeville on January 7, 1950. Helen and Jim spent their honeymoon at the Brown Palace Hotel.

James and Helen began a new life together in Grand Junction, but less than a year later, they moved back to Denver where they opened a plumbing business and started a family. Helen found great joy in raising their family. She was involved in the school’s PTAs; she was a Cub Scout Leader, a Girl Scout Leader and part-time preschool teacher. She also managed all of the bookkeeping for the family business. Helen raised an amazing family and was the guiding light for her husband, children and especially their youngest daughter, Becky, who was born with Down Syndrome. Helen and James were instrumental in bringing Group Homes for people with disabilities to South Jefferson County. In 1982, when Becky turned 21, she moved into one of the homes.

Helen and James enjoyed vacationing with their children and grandchildren, and with the Silver Strands Seniors Group at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church. Whether it be camping, fishing, cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, and trips to Mexico, England, Paris, Branson, Las Vegas, Disneyworld, Sacramento, and Boise, they loved being together with their children and good friends. They had a life filled with love, fun and excitement thanks to James always nudging Helen to go along on his endless adventures. James passed away October 18, 2009, just three months before their 60th Wedding Anniversary.

Helen lived in the family home in Columbine Hills for over 60 years. She recently moved into the nearby Brookdale Assisted Living residence. She enjoyed her beautiful one-bedroom apartment and the meals in their dining room! She said she felt like she was at a resort, or on a cruise ship. Helen was quite shy, but made a lot of new friends, enjoyed playing domino’s, bingo, bunko and participating in the B-fit classes. It was the happiest she had been since James died 13 years ago.