Helen P. Testini

Helen P. Testini, 92, of Benton Harbor passed away Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at Royalton Manor in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life will be held 11:30 A.M. Saturday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Robert Confer officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma. Friends may call from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M on Friday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph. Memorials can be made to Hospice at Home, Area Agency on Aging, or the family. Those wishing to sign Helen’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Helen was born July 1, 1920 in Kennett, Missouri to Luther & Ora (Bailey) Sutton. On September 21, 1946, she married John Testini in LaPorte, Indiana. Helen and her husband John had a love for children that reached beyond their call of duty. They served as foster parents for several children, and provided good homes for them through the years. Helen had a passion for helping kids in trouble. She was called Mom or Grandma by many of her children’s friends, and that passed down through to the grandchildren’s friends. She loved arts and crafts, sewing, making quilts, and ceramics. Helen is survived by her loving and devoted husband John of 67 years; five of six children Joy (Bill) Hoover of St. Charles, MO., Linda Parrigin of Hartford, MI., Gregory (Benjapon) Mellblom of Freemont, CA., Jean (Jim) Stanford of Millburg, MI., Suzon (Fred) Pearson of Benton Harbor, MI; twenty-one grandchildren; thirty-two great grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son Johnny Testini in 2006, son-in-law LaVon Parrigin in 1993, granddaughter Debbi Stanford Aldama in 1992, mother Ora Sutton in 1978, father Luther Sutton in 1966, and sister Naomi Sutton in 1945.