Joanna Helmick Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Joanna (Barresi) Helmick, age 84, died July 30, 2019. Joanna was born on Feb. 5, 1935 in Detroit. She was very proud of her ethnic heritage and was a first generation Italian American, her parents having emigrated from Sicily. Joanna grew up in a vibrant east-side Detroit neighborhood and loved to share fond memories of Detroit during the '40s and '50s, shopping at Eastern Market, sitting on her front porch on hot summer days listening to Detroit Tigers ball and the Italian opera hour on the radio. Joanna met James Helmick at a dance on the Boblo Island ferry and married him six months later on April 27, 1957. They shared 62 happy years together. Her family was the joy of her life. She was a loving, exceptional wife, mother and grandmother. She loved all holidays. She decorated lavishly and made enough food to feed her entire family in leftovers for a week. She was an outstanding cook! Her family favorites were her personal recipes for Italian meatballs, sausage and cannoli. Joanna loved animals, especially the small creatures in her yard, as well as her many dogs and cats. Rudy and Molly were her last "babies." Joanna enjoyed gardening and watching birds. She started each day with a cup of coffee and her daily word puzzles. Joanna loved Traverse City. She was employed at Kmart for 17 years before retiring at age 62. She is survived by her loving husband, James Helmick; her children, Kenneth Helmick, of Lake Orion, Ross (Heather) Helmick, of Holt, Susan (Craig) Reamer, of Traverse City, and Sandra Helmick, of Traverse City; her grandchildren, Nolan, Drew, Sarah and Matthew; her sister, Eva Barresi, of Warren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Liborio and Vita Barresi; brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Claire Barresi; and her brother, Anthony Barresi. She will be remembered as a diminutive woman of towering love, generosity and faith. Per her wishes, there will be a private service for immediate family. Joanna and her family are being cared for by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Joanna Helmick

February 5, 1935 - July 30, 2019