Traverse City-Helen Isabella (Rollert) Riordan, died Monday, August 27, at Munson Medical Center, surrounded by family. She was 100 years old, having just enjoyed a wonderful birthday celebration in December with family and friends.
Helen was born in Newark, NJ, on December 19, 1911, to Claude and Harriet (Kelly) Rorabeck. She grew up in Chicago Heights, IL, with her parents and younger sister, Dorothy Adair. While attending Bloom Township High School, she met her future husband, Edward "Ed" D. Rollert, who sat behind her in class. She liked to recount how she knew from the beginning that he'd be successful in life, but always reminded her grandchildren with a little smile that she, in fact, was the one who was class valedictorian.
Helen went on to attend Stephens College, and then married Ed in 1935. They honeymooned on Glen Lake, which began their love for the Grand Traverse region. They eventually put down roots, building a log cabin on Long Lake and acquiring the Maple Bay Farm, where they continued its tradition of dairy and fruit farming. Driving down US 31 between Acme and Elk Rapids, one would always notice their black and white cows at the bend in the road, and often wonder: How do those cows get from one side of the road to the other? (Answer: There's a tunnel under the road!)
Over the next few decades, Helen and Ed had two sons – E. David and John M. – travelled frequently, and moved often throughout the Midwest and Northeast as Ed built his career with General Motors. The cottage on Long Lake became their consistent "home," and Helen and her sons spent many summers on the lake.
After Ed died in 1969, Helen continued to enjoy her love of travel, taking extensive trips throughout such places as the former Soviet Union, India, China, and South East Asia with her children, grandchildren and great friend, Helen Osterlin. She even met her second husband – Edward T. "Ted" Riordan" – while enjoying a Caribbean tour. She asked the "handsomest man on the ship" to help her open a stuck window and they were a couple from that moment on, dividing their time between the cabin on Long Lake and Naples, FL. After Ted died, Helen settled in a home on East Bay, where she lived for the remainder of her life.
As an expression of her love of the Grand Traverse region, Helen supported several local institutions, including:
Interlochen Center for the Arts with the Rollert Scholarship Fund
· Northwestern Michigan College
· Munson Medical Center with a major gift to support the new Emergency Room
· Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy with the transfer of the Maple Bay Farm, so the farm and adjoining Lake Michigan frontage could be kept in perpetuity for the benefit of people living in the region.
Helen was also active in the Congregational Church, Zonta Club of Traverse City, Trillium Women's Garden Club, and Traverse City Golf and Country Club.
Helen is survived by her sons, David (Liz) Rollert and John M. Rollert; her step-children, Bob (Marion) Riordan and Lou Riordan; her grandchildren, Ginger (Greg) Abbey, John K. (Mary) Rollert, Ann (Michael) Biddlecom, John E. Rollert, and Emily (John) Shephard; and her 6 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, and her husbands.
A special thank you to the caregivers from Just Like Family, who did, in fact, become just like family, providing wonderful care and companionship to her for the last several years.
Visitation will be Thursday, August 30th, from 5-8pm, at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.
Private Graveside Services will be held at Oakwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The Rollert Scholarship Fund at Interlochen Center for the Arts, and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy for the benefit of Maple Bay Farm. Envelopes may be obtained at the funeral home.

Kindly share your memories with the familiy on their online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .

Arrangements were made with the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.