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Interment: Elmwood Cemetery, Flora, Illinois
Helen Louise Mastick, 94, of Winter Garden, Florida, passed away Friday, August 30, 2024. Her remarkable life was filled with opportunities not available to many women of her day and her devotion to family and friends is a legacy she encouraged others to follow.
Born in Flora, Illinois, on August 15, 1930, Helen’s father Newton Branson, a World War I veteran, founded Branson Funeral Home in the small Midwest community and later sold the business to John Frank. Today Frank & Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Services still operates with the same philosophy that fueled the young Helen Branson’s home: Embracing the Heart of the Family.
Helen graduated from Flora Township High School and received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Northwestern University in Evanston. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and chosen as one of the college's first “girl” cheerleaders.
During her lifetime she married and divorced Travis Parker Stuart and Donald Mastick, a Manhattan Project chemist. She mingled with celebrities, heads of industry, and humanitarians – all the while staying grounded to her KKG ideals to inspire change and lift up others.
Her career at IBM started with a Secretarial position. By the time she retired in 1992, Helen’s tenacious and strong work ethic elevated her to Vice President of Corporate Philanthropy in IBM’s New York office. For her next chapter she made Florida her home to be near beloved family.
Known simply as “Second Mom” or “Aunt Helen” to all her family and close friends, she took on life with courage and vigor. In retirement Helen continued her active lifestyle with her passion for the arts, golf, music, health and wellness, the Miami Dolphins, and her Northwestern Wildcats. Helen was meticulous about her appearance in all of these pursuits. Her nails were done, her outfit was perfection, and her hair was coiffed. In fact, there was literally a hairdresser on standby for most of her life.
Her ashes will be interred at a later date in Elmwood Cemetery in her hometown of Flora, Illinois, with the assistance of Frank & Bright Funeral Home.
Jul 21, 1931 - Nov 18, 2024
Nov 15, 1940 - Nov 9, 2024
Sep 5, 1961 - Oct 31, 2024
Nov 14, 1941 - Oct 30, 2024
Nov 28, 1936 - Oct 29, 2024
I knew Newt and Lela Branson, my father worked for them in the first funeral home, dad said next-door to the Methodist Church, dad told me both Margaret and Helen got anything they needed or wanted and Lela made sure of it! Both of those girls call my dad, uncle Joe. I also knew Newton's brother Kirby Branson from Salem and that's where Newton and Lela moved from.
Condolences to Helen's family. I first met, Helen, in the early 1970's, when her father Mr Branson, passed away. I was working at John T Frank funeral home, at that time. John sent me to, St. Louis International Airport, to drive her, to Flora. We had quite a conversation about, her life growing up in a funeral home, and of my entering Worsham Mortuary College, in Chicago. She was a very well read, and kind person, who encouraged, me, in my future career. Later, after Mr.Branson's service's, I returned Helen, to the airport, for her return, to New York. May she Rest in Peace.
Frank & Bright Funeral Home
and Cremation Services
500 North Main Street
Flora, Illinois 62839
Phone : (618) 662-2141
Fax: (618) 662-4600
Email: [email protected]
