Helen Burns Snedegar

Helen Burns Snedegar, born March 8th 1925, died peacefully at 95 years of age November 4th 2020.  She was preceded in death by: her husband William (Bill) M. Snedegar; her son Bill Snedegar; grandson Brian Snedegar; sister Joanne Fiex; and her parents Burgess (Bas) and Nolene Hayes Burns.

Helen is survived by: her son CH (Brenda) Snedegar; daughter-in-law Janet Snedegar; grandsons Steve and Creth Snedegar; and grand-daughter Katie (Scott) Monroe. She is also survived by several great-grandchildren, extended family, cousins and cherished friends.

Dressed immaculately with her signature pink lipstick and perfect hair, Helen was a consummate lady that truly embodied the spirit of her hometown community.  A lifelong and proud Kentuckian, she spent most of her time with family and friends beaching in Florida, boating on the Ohio River, and hosting countless, precious memories at Greenbo Lake all the while creating the most beautiful flower arrangements at her family owned La Flair Florist in downtown Russell.  Helen’s thoughtful, gentle kindness, unwavering loyalty and dedication to her family and friends, and her genuine, servant heart were hallmarks of a Godly life lived well.

If you didn’t find Helen visiting family or friends, you would have found her and her best friend Lib Callahan on their riverfront porch most evenings warmly greeting any passerby.  She was proud of downtown Russell and its close-knit rivertown community, and she truly loved her friends and making new friends.  If you saw Helen at a get together, you know she was always the first to arrive and last to leave, graciously and humbly helping setup and cleanup long before and after the guests arrived and departed.  She was a principal organizer and volunteer at the Senior Center and was frequently chronicled in the local newspaper as Canasta champion.

Helen and Lib's home was the marquis of downtown Russell 4th of July parties—even well into her 80s.  Helen and her late husband Bill were always the life of any party with smiles that would light any room and lift every heart.  She was the kind of person that made you feel like you were home in her presence...  as if you had known each other your whole life.  Helen’s house always smelt of delicious food and no one could escape without a full stomach; it was always decorated for the holidays; and it was always welcoming whether you were there for minutes or hours.  No stranger, no out-of-towner, no foreign guest, no social status and no human or societal barrier existed in Helen’s company.  She was truly an equal opportunity friend, listener and servant to her community.

To meet Helen Snedegar is to have made an instant and lifelong friend, and that rare quality is something to behold and aspire to.  She was someone to count on...  someone to emulate... someone that will truly be missed.  But above all, Helen was a faithful and prayerful believer of Jesus Christ, and a member of Bridges Christian Church for 65 years.  She raised her children and grandchildren in church and lived a life exuding Christian ethics and values.  While we mourn the earthly passing of Helen, we rejoice reflecting on a life lived so very well and the knowledge she is now made whole again and joined in Heaven with her Eternal Savior and beloved husband, son and family.

Services will be held at Carman Funeral Home in Flatwoods, Ky on Thursday November 12th: Visitation 11-1pm and service to start at 1pm.  

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to the Russell Senior Center and Bridges Christian Church.