A memorial Mass for Sister Helen Fick was celebrated Jan. 17 in the School Sisters of Notre Dame Theresa Center chapel in south St. Louis County.

Sister Helen died Jan. 8 at Anna House in Bridgeton. She was 88 and a former teacher.

Sister Helen was born in Rich Fountain, Mo. She entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1948 and professed first vows in 1951 and final vows in 1957. She earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1960 from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis and a master's degree in education in 1975 from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.

Sister Helen began her teaching career at St. Clare School in St. Clair. She also served as a teacher in Missouri at St. Ignatius in Marthasville, St. George in Linn, St. Joseph in Illmo (Scott City), Mo., Holy Ghost and St. Martin of Tours in St. Louis and St. Joseph in Westphalia. In Illinois, she taught at schools in Effingham and Washington Park. She worked as a switchboard receptionist at the motherhouse in St. Louis and as a tutor at St. Boniface School and Notre Dame Tutorial Center, both in St. Louis.

After several years of community service at the motherhouse in St. Louis, she moved to Anna House in 2008.

Survivors include a brother, Bernard Fick of Rich Fountain, and a sister, Mary Scheuler of Mexico, Mo. Burial was in the Sancta Maria in Ripa cemetery in south St. Louis County.