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.