Helen Werden Hilgeman, 93, died quietly and peacefully on Friday, March 23, 2018.

The daughter of Alice and Glenn Snell, Helen Alice Snell was born in Alexandria, NY and lived in Montreal, Canada, Skaneateles NY and then moved out West, which was her dream as a young woman.

In Denver, Co, Helen met her first husband, Edward T Werden, Jr. of Mt. Vernon, NY, and they started their family. From Colorado, Ed and Helen moved to Middletown, NJ and then on to Crystal Lake, Il. Several years after the death of her husband Ed, Helen married Leander Hilgeman and they lived in Crystal Lake prior to moving to Woodstock, Il in 2014. Helen relocated to NJ in Dec 2015 to be closer to her family.

Helen loved raising her five children with Ed, traveling and truly enjoyed cooking for her family and loved ones. When she lived in Middletown NJ she was very active in the First Presbyterian Church in Red Bank, NJ, along with bible study and women’s groups wherever she lived. In Illinois she was active in the Evangelical Free Church of Crystal Lake, where she had many close friends, some of whom she traveled with to Israel.

Helen leaves us with the legacy of her sense of adventure, kind heartedness, colorful sense of humor, and wonderful memories which of all who knew her with hold dear forever. Her children all have warm memories of road trips with Mom, the comradery and laughs along the way, with frequent stops at McDonalds.

Helen was predeceased by her parents; her first husband of 47 years, Edward T. Werden, Jr.; daughter Alice, sons James and Philip and second husband, Leander “Lee” Hilgeman of Crystal Lake, IL.

Helen is survived by her daughter Judith Syms and son-in law Raymond Syms, Middletown, NJ; son John Werden, Barnegat NJ, and son Paul and daughter-in law Vivienne Werden of Hubbardsville, NY; grandchildren Ryan Valese and his wife Jennifer of Neptune NJ, Jeremiah Werden of Hubbardsville NY, Kristina Werden, MI and Danielle Werden, CA,; twin great-grandsons Anthony and Lucas Valese; her sister Carolyn Savage of PA, and nieces and nephews.

Visitation Sunday, March 25th 1:00 – 4:00 pm at the Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Home, 10 Morrell Street, Long Branch, NJ.

Omar and Rose Sutherland missionaries are supported by Ed Werden, Helen Werden Hilgeman and Lee Hilgeman. Donations in memory of Helen may be made to CRU Ministries, The Great Commission Foundation, 100 Lake Hart Drive #3600, Orlando FL 32832; www.gcfccc.org; 800-449-5454.