She was born Dec. 8, 1914, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Albert and Alma Belle (Hammond) Alexander. She married Ed Novak in Valpairaso, Ind., and they lived in Des Moines until the outbreak of World War II.
When Ed joined the Marine Corps., Helen went to work as a bookkeeper for Consolidated Voltee Aircraft Co. in San Diego and worked there until the family moved to Juneau, Alaska in 1954.
She worked as a bookkeeper in the office of then Alaska territorial Gov. Mike Stepovich, and then moved on to the Alaska Department of Administration after statehood.
In 1963, the Novaks moved to Haines, where they owned and operated the Thunderbird Motel. They retired in 1974 and moved to Sequim, Washington. Helen moved to Green Valley, AZ in 2003 to be near her daughter.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Judith Ann Rhodes, in 1993; husband, Ed Novak, in 1999; and one sister and five brothers.
She is survived by her daughters, Jeri Whitaker and husband, Cal, of Green Valley, AZ, and Jeanne DiRaffaele and husband, Carlo, of Lakeside, CA; and five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
At her request, there will be no services and internment will be with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery.
The family can be contacted care of Jeri Whitaker, 260 E. Las Milpas, Green Valley, AZ 85614.
Published in Juneau Empire on Tuesday, June 24, 2008.
She was born Dec. 8, 1914, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Albert and Alma Belle (Hammond) Alexander. She married Ed Novak in Valpairaso, Ind., and they lived in Des Moines until the outbreak of World War II.
When Ed joined the Marine Corps., Helen went to work as a bookkeeper for Consolidated Voltee Aircraft Co. in San Diego and worked there until the family moved to Juneau, Alaska in 1954.
She worked as a bookkeeper in the office of then Alaska territorial Gov. Mike Stepovich, and then moved on to the Alaska Department of Administration after statehood.
In 1963, the Novaks moved to Haines, where they owned and operated the Thunderbird Motel. They retired in 1974 and moved to Sequim, Washington. Helen moved to Green Valley, AZ in 2003 to be near her daughter.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Judith Ann Rhodes, in 1993; husband, Ed Novak, in 1999; and one sister and five brothers.
She is survived by her daughters, Jeri Whitaker and husband, Cal, of Green Valley, AZ, and Jeanne DiRaffaele and husband, Carlo, of Lakeside, CA; and five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
At her request, there will be no services and internment will be with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery.
The family can be contacted care of Jeri Whitaker, 260 E. Las Milpas, Green Valley, AZ 85614.
Published in Juneau Empire on Tuesday, June 24, 2008.
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