Our dear mother and Oma, Hedi Helfenstein, sadly left us on March 9, 2023, at the age of eighty.
Hedi was born in Voelklingen, Germany in 1942. She led a life filled with love and adventure. She embarked on her first adventure to Switzerland in her early twenties to become a photographer, where she enjoyed working in the lab developing photographs. In Switzerland, she met the love of her life, Otto Helfenstein.
Otto’s career as a chef carried him far away to Houston, Texas, and they continued to write letters to one another for the next four years. They married in Switzerland and moved on to their next adventure together in San Francisco, where Otto took a position as the Executive
Chef at the Mark Hopkins Hotel. A weekend adventure led them to move to Lake Tahoe for the next thirty years, and finally they settled in the Carson Valley in their golden years.
Hedi enjoyed a second career as a beautician, and she loved getting all the brides ready for their special day. Being an Oma brought her the greatest joy, and she brought that same love and kindness to all of those who loved her.
She was predeceased by her father, Peter Leick, her mother, Martha Leick, and her sister, Kaethe Loew.
She is survived by her son, Andy Helfenstein, her daughter, Sonja Helfenstein, her granddaughter, Mia Helfenstein, and her loving family in Germany.
A memorial service will be held at the St. Gall Church in Gardnerville at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 1st , followed by a reception at the Carson Valley Inn.
We invite you to make a donation to the National Cancer Society in Hedi’s honor, in place of
sending flowers.