Helen Jane Schmitt of West Bend passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at Samaritan Home at the age of 86 years.

She was born on Sept. 22, 1922 in Madison to Frank P. and Mary E. (nee Sarahan) Hillebrandt. She attended Madison East High School class of 1939. She attended Edgewood College for one year, and then UWMadison for one more year. Later she entered the United Coast Guard and served in WW11.

On Sept. 10, 1949 she married Robert John Schmitt at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Madison. Later she taught school at St. Nicholas Grade School in Milwaukee, before working as an administrative assistant for Nicolet High School in Glendale for 18 years.

Helen is survived by her husband, Robert J. Schmitt; her children, Ron of Madison, Donna (Terry) Buswell of Longmont, Colo., and Dennis (Carole) Schmitt of Newnan, Ga. Further surviving are her grandchildren, Anthony Schmitt, Carly and Natalie Schmitt and Sean Buswell; her sister, Mary Evans of Randolph; her sister-in-law, Dorothy Elliot of Indianapolis, Ind.: nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Preceding Helen in death were her parents and her brother, Charles Hillebrandt.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday March 18, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Frances Cabrini Church with Fr. Jeffrey Haines officiating. Visitation will be at the church only on Wednesday, March 18 from 10 a.m. until time of Mass at 11:30 a.m. Entombment will take place at Ledgeview Cemetery in Fond du Lac.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Samaritan Health Care Center or the Alzheimer's Foundation appreciated.

The family of Helen would like to thank the staff at Samaritan Home for the excellent care that they gave to her.

The Phillip Funeral Home of West Bend is assisting the family. www.phillipfuneralhome.com.