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.