Obituary of Helen Baily

Born: April 5, 1918 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As the fifth of eight children, Helen was daughter of Matt Macek and Marie Gianetti, Slovenian immigrants. Attended a "Country" one room school-house in Praire Creek/Shaeffer Heights area of Cedar Rapids and spoke the Czech language as was predominant in the neighborhood, at that time. Enjoyed sports, sewing, 4 H activities and attending Methodist church services that were at the school building with summer time work at Penick & Ford Corn Products where her father worked. Completed high-school at Wilson High School in 1936. While initially interested in nursing, Helen, proceeded to complete Cosmetology School in 1937. The first job was for one dollar a day pay. 1939 brought a cross country bus trip to the Pan Pacific Exhibition/Worlds Fair in San Francisco, California. Entertainment activities included dancing to big band music and night-clubs. Beauty conventions at Chicago's Palmer House Hotel were attended to keep up to date with the latest hair styles. Social life included meeting and dancing with Ernest Baily after meeting his sisters in 4 H activities some years previous. 1941 brought World War II and a marriage proposal from "Ernie". Helen declined to marry during war time. The Marine sergeant continued pursuit on leave and in letters and on August 11, 1946, with war over, they married in Cedar Rapids. Early married life included continued work as a beautician and drive vacations to Florida, dances and, of course, auto races of all sorts. Family life arrived, in November 1949, with the expected "little" Ernie and the unexpected Eugene seven minutes later. Twins, prevalent with the Baily's brought matching outfits and close connection with Ernie's twin sisters, and twin cousins. Eugene's Cebral-Palsey condition required special attention after detection in 1950. The fifties brought a home and a third child, daughter Jenise Ann and in 1955 son Jerry. After a 1956 trip to southern California brought the decision to move west. Economic prospects and an improved school system for Gene motivated the 1953 Dodge to move forward. After a brief stay in Northridge a new house was found in West Hills/Canoga Park that would be home until 2014. Chatsworth Methodist church was joined early on in 1957. Kid's attended local schools with Helen involved with Brownies/Girl Scouts/Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts including Den Mother leadership. Helen participated in the community and neighborhood with 25 years of work on the local election board. 1968 brought changes as twins graduated from high-school and Helen mixed work outside of home with taking Gene to Pierce College. Activities continued around the family and church with the marriage of son Ernie to Diane Mokris and daughter Jenise to Jim Bracci in the early seventies. Activities with grandchildren: Laura, Andrew and Eric were added to the agenda as was a 1979 trip to Slovenia that included a reconnection with an unknown cousin. September of 1981 brought the loss of husband Ernie in a motorcycle accident close to home. Helen continued activities including driving Gene to work for many years and squeezing in golf, Tai Chi and Hawaiian dancing. Trips to Alaska, Hawaii, New England and the Caribbean were added to trips back to Iowa for High School reunions. There were years of participation in church rummage sales and treasurer office added to help with growing grand-kids. Along the way were organ lessons and senior group activities including Happy Hour group. Helen was able to slow down a bit with Gene's transit with a ride service in the mid 1990's. Loss of daughter Jenise, to cancer in 1996, was stunning but activities continued to include involvement with the grandchildren including the marriage of grand-daughter Laura to Brock Jones and running the household without a cloths dryer or dish-washer. Later years have continued with family activities such as Tai- Quon-Do and Tri-athelons and holiday's with Great Grand children Ashley and Casey Jones. The last years of medical limitations brought Helen to miss, too often, the Chatsworth Methodist Church family but contact and concern remained steadfast. Visits with family and old friends were enjoyed and remembered with great joy. These visits brought connections to both the past and future and brought Helen to tell us she had a good life, did many things and was ready to conclude this well lived life.