In Memory of

Helene Ann Kitchin Cohen

September 12, 1950 - September 7, 2023

Obituary

Helene Ann Kitchin Cohen, aged 72, passed away peacefully on September 7, 2023, and is now resting and healed in Heaven.

Helene grew up in Greenwood, Mississippi, the fourth of six Kitchin siblings. She was a dancer, cheerleader, and member of Homecoming Court as part of Greenwood High’s class of 1968.

She moved to Kansas City to attend nursing school at Research Hospital in 1970, completing her Bachelors of Science in Nursing and later her Masters of Science in Nursing, serving patients faithfully through the Visiting Nurses Association, Veterans Affairs, and St. Luke’s Health system as a wound and ostomy nurse clinician, until her retirement in late 2019.

Helene met Steve Cohen, her lifelong love, while in nursing school, and they were married in 1974. They lived in various locales pursuing career opportunities, growing their family, and making lifelong friends before settling in Lee’s Summit in 1986. Helene and Steve raised 3 children, and faithfully cared for many more through Catholic Charities infant foster program, Lee’s Summit Children and Family Services, and the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. Helene and Steve joined and enthusiastically supported Catholic churches in every community in which they lived, most recently St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, believing deeply in Christ’s directives to pray and serve. Praying the rosary with good friends was Helene’s key comfort during her illness, along with Steve’s loving care.

Helene is preceded in Heaven by her parents, Leon and Effie Kitchin, her older sister Leona Kitchin Pollard Webb, and daughter-in-law Debra Snyder Cohen.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Steve Cohen; sons Justin Cohen (Eliany) and Andy Cohen of Lee’s Summit Missouri, and daughter Carly Cohen-Fox (Steve) in Louisville Colorado; sister Peggy Kitchin in Ridgeland Mississippi; brothers the Rev. George Kitchin in Gulfport Mississippi, John Kitchin (Susan) in Gautier Mississippi, and Robert Kitchin (Ann) in Bolivar Missouri; nephews Trey Pollard (Guyanne) in Luka Mississippi, Jonathan Kitchin (Renae) in Lee’s Summit Missouri, Paul Kitchin (Stephanie) in Phoenix Arizona, Dave Kitchin (Audrey) in Sunnyvale California, Joseph Kitchin in San Francisco California; niece Clare Kitchin in Worcester Massachusetts; grandchildren Jacob Cohen (Justin) and Kayley Cohen (Andy) in Lee’s Summit Missouri, and Sam Fox and Gus Fox (Carly) in Louisville Colorado. We will always hold Helene and her example in our hearts.

Condolences

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Steve, we are so very sorry for your loss. Our condolences to you and your family. Sending our prayers and thoughts.

With much love from The Lone Jack Post Office.

Helene was my lifelong classmate and friend, and we shared our Catholic faith. Her brilliance was only surpassed by her gentle spirit & steady kindness. She brought a lot of goodness and joy into our world. And now, her light shines even brighter. She will be missed.

A gentle soul, and a caring mother and spouse. She was a true disciple of the Lord and a credit to her Catholic Faith.

Steve and Family,
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family. Helene was a wonderful and sweet lady. I will always remember her beautiful smile. You and Helene were the first friendly faces we saw in church when we moved to Lee’s Summit.
We went to the same church, Holy Faith, in Gainesville, FL. I have sweet memories of you in the church there where I played the organ. Our friends, the Stirna’s loved you and Helene very much, also.
Please know we are keeping you close in our thoughts and prayers. Carol and Steve

The many nurses who have had the good fortune to work with Helene through the years mourn her loss, and are thankful for her mentorship and the great example that she provided. She touched countless patient lives, and will be very sadly missed.

We will always remember Helene as a sweet and gentle big sister, stern when she needed to be, but always with love. We know she is now at peace with her Lord.

Everyone is so spread out now so it takes a time for all of us to catch up. And miss friends we grew up with. Hopefully we’ll see everyone again in the here after to reminest about our lives.

Visitation

Saturday, September 16, 2023
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
1800 MO-150
Lee's Summit, MO 64082

Services

Saturday, September 16, 2023
10:00 a.m. Funeral Mass
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
1800 MO-150
Lee's Summit, MO 64082