Helen M. O’Neill-Friedler, 68, of East Dubuque, IL, passed away Monday afternoon, February 25, 2019 at Dubuque Specialty Care.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 1, 2019 at St. Mary’s Church in East Dubuque, with Fr. Dean Smith officiating. Burial will be in the East Dubuque Cemetery. Visitation is from 9:00 – 10:45 a.m. on Friday at St. Mary’s Church. The Miller Funeral Home of East Dubuque is in charge of arrangements.

Helen was born on February 16, 1951 in Dubuque, IA, the daughter of Earl “Dede” O’Neill and Luella Banfield. She spent her early years in East Dubuque, where she graduated from St. Mary’s Grade School, and Wahlert High School, class of 1969. She later graduated from the University of Illinois-Chicago campus.

Helen lived and worked in Chicago, where she met her future husband Michael N. Friedler. They were united in marriage on February 14, 1978 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He preceded her in death on October 13, 2007.

Helen will be remembered as a loving and caring person, who will be dearly missed by her family.

Surviving are her two step-children, Lane and Lisa Friedler both of Atlanta, GA; siblings, Peggy Burds of McClain, VA, Eileen O’Neill of East Dubuque, Mary (Gary) Kupferschmidt, and Lois O’Neill both of Dubuque, and Michael (Cathy) O’Neill of East Dubuque; nieces and nephews; her aunts, Erma Schneider and Mary “Bebe” McWilliams and uncles, Louis and Ed Banfield.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl “Dede” and Luella, husband, Michael, a son, Francis at birth, two brothers, James and Thomas O’Neill, and brothers-in-law, David Burds and Jerry Stoeffler.

The O’Neill family wishes to thank the nurses and staff at Dubuque Specialty Care and Hospice of Dubuque for the loving care and compassion shown to Helen.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.millerfhed.com.©