Helen Faust Via

Virginia Beach – Our mom, Helen F. Via, 94, of the 3400 block of Dickens Drive passed away peacefully on May 31, 2017. She was predeceased by her husband, Hubert L. Via in 1981.

The daughter of a Methodist Minister, Helen was raised in upstate New York. She graduated from Sodus High School, Sodus New York and attended Business School at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, PA. She was a WAVE in World War II and assigned to the U. S. Naval Ferry Command, North Island, San Diego, CA. She was a long time member of Thalia United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. She served in several areas of the church including Circle Chairman. She was past president of the Kings Forest Garden Club and Marion Crosby Garden Club. Helen was a Chaplain for the Council of Garden Clubs of Virginia Beach and also served on the Community Services Board and the Alliance of the Mentally Ill. She was a member of the Retired Officer Wives Club and worked at Tidewater Community College. Helen enjoyed helping others in the program of recovery. Her life motto was “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” She will be deeply missed by family and friends.

She is survived by two daughters, Deborah Mikesell (Eugene, OR) and Daphne Wilkins (Va. Beach); two sons, Kenneth Via (Va. Beach) and Keith Via and wife, Dominique Shwe (Palm Springs, CA) and two grandchildren, Ruth Andrews and Adam Tanner. The family would like to thank the staff of Windermere Nursing Center for the excellent care of their Mother.

A Memorial Service will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Thursday June 15, 2017 at Thalia United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Thalia United Methodist Church, 4321 Virginia Beach Blvd, Va Beach, VA 23452.