Helen Estes

October 8, 1917 — February 17, 2008

Helene Pauline (Semprez) Reeves Estes, 90, of Topeka, died February 17, 2008 at the Kansas City Hospice House. She was the only child of John Semprez Jr. (Jean Baptiste Semprez Jr.) and Pauline Elizabeth Burghart on October 8, 1917 in Topeka, Kansas.She was also the only granddaughter of Jean Baptiste Sr. and Eugenie Elise Gunther who immigrated in 1871 from Paris, France to the U.S. She attended Holy Name School and Topeka Capitol Catholic High School. She also attended Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Missouri where she taught Tap Dancing while attending college. She received a certificate to teach Art in elementary schools in Missouri. Helene volunteered over 20 years at Ward Meade Historical Park and also over 10 years for the Kansas State Historical Museum. She was a member of Mater Dei’s Holy Name Parish She was employed for Hallmark at the Topeka plant for 47 years. She was preceded in death by husbands Gerald Frederick Reeves and L. Keith Estes, a son John Henry Reeves, a daughter Barbara Ann Reeves Ebita, granddaughter Chimene Ann Charveze, and a great-granddaughter Helen Ann Pilarz. Survivors include two daughters; Sandy Charveze of Scottsdale, AZ. and Virginia Pilarz and husband Edmund of Mission, KS., her grandchildren; Elizabeth Ann Kerns, Staci Ann Jennings, Edmund Victor Pilarz and Gerald Frederick Pilarz, great grandchildren; Brian Joseph Pilarz, Spicie Jane Jennings, Jessica Caplanger, Katharine Caplanger, Elizabeth Ann Pilarz, Madeline Virginia Pilarz, John Russell Pilarz, and by three great-great-grandchildren; Kaylee Pilarz, Lily Pilarz and Alijah Pilarz, herstep-sons Jerry Estes and wife Barbara and Tad Estes and wife Gayle, step daughter-in-law Anita Estes who is the widow of Jim Estes, and many step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren. Helene will lie in state at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Friday after 2:00 p.m. where a Parish Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Mater Dei’s Holy Name Parish. Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to any Hospice House of your choice and sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW Sixth Ave., Topeka, Kansas 66603. Online condolences to www.brennanmathenafh.com.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helen Estes, please visit our flower store.

Send With Love

Helen Estes

October 8, 1917 — February 17, 2008

Guestbook