Obituaries: Helen C. Medich

Helen C. Medich, 90, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family Tuesday Aug. 20, 2019. Helen was born in Duluth, Minnesota, the youngest child of Christ A. and Laura Helen Andrews.

Known and loved by many, Helen never failed to feed anyone who stopped by. She learned to cook during her youth by working in her family’s restaurants, The Main and The Jolly Fisher, in Duluth. Proud of her Greek heritage and following in the footsteps of many family members before her, she was one to serve others through her cooking, gifting chocolate bunnies at Easter for Sunday-schoolers, buying winter coats for schoolchildren, and her quiet mentorship to both young and old.

After working in the restaurants, she worked in the proof department at Northern City National Bank and subsequently alongside her husband in their retail pharmacies. She met the love of her life, George Medich, at the family restaurant, the Main Cocktail Lounge in 1952. They married in 1954 after a courtship that included many pints of Bridgeman’s ice cream. To Helen, her family and the traditions of her Greek heritage were everything. She worked diligently to raise her six children who learned how to love and care for people through watching how she did that with others. Through all of this, Helen never missed an opportunity to include people in family celebrations, especially the legendary gatherings with spit-barbecued lamb and chicken at their Big Lake cabin. Her bright spirit will be remembered by all who knew her, including many an animal that followed her around looking for treats that “accidentally” fell from her hands.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband George, parents Christ and Laura Andrews, sisters Angeline Ballas and Mary Kuzas, and several beloved aunts, uncles and cousins.

She will be greatly missed by her children Mary (Terry) Tilander, Mike, Christ, Cathy, Paula (David) Kaufman, and George Medich Jr.; her grandchildren Adria (Nate) Haapoja, Emma, Andrew, Helen Kaufman and Matthew Medich; her great-grandchildren Eleni, William, and Ruby Haapoja; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Tom and Ady Kuzas; and special cousins, friends, and Koumbari.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Helen’s name are preferred to the Twelve Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church Sunday School Endowment, George and Helen C. Medich Family Medical Scholarship, or St. George Serbian Orthodox Church.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, 2019 at the Dougherty Funeral Home, with the Trisagion service at 6:30 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at Twelve Holy Apostles Greek Church, 632 E. Second St. in Duluth. Burial at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. Second St., Duluth MN 55805. (218) 727-3555