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Helen Molina Obituary
Helen Antonette Molina, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away Friday, April 3, 2020 at 85 years young due to complications from Covid-19 and end stage Alzheimer's.
Helen was born in New York on January 17, 1935 to Jose and Josephine Molina, but credits her grandma in raising her when her mother passed away when Helen was just 16 years old. She spent her younger years in New York City, then took a train to Los Angeles with her family at age 7.
She graduated from John C. Fremont high school in 1953. She worked as a secretary until she married John Gulickson in 1957. Together they had four children, David, Daniel, Susan, and Amy and moved to Washington in 1967. They were married for 22 years. She raised her three younger children practically on her own while working as a secretary in the Romance Languages Department, then in the Psychology Department at the University of Washington. Eventually, she fell in love with UW Husky sports working alongside UW Athletic Director Mike Lude for several years. She was loved by the Husky athletic department community and even more so by her family and friends.
Helen was preceded in death by her son Daniel and is survived by her children, David, Susan, and Amy and their children and grandchildren.
Helen lived for her children, but her world revolved around her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Helen has eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She enjoyed jogging in full makeup, volunteering at Lynndale Elementary, where 3 of her grandchildren went, and being the loudest fan at every Husky football game! She will be painfully missed by her family, friends, and all who had the honor of knowing her. A celebration of life will be held in the future.
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Memories and Condolences
for Helen Molina
Sponsored by The Family.
May 21, 2020
An absolute joy to be around!! Her enthusiasm for everything was contagious.
I'll never forget her passion for our "noontime runners."
Jeff Larson
May 7, 2020
I had the pleasure of getting to know Helen about 35-40 years ago at the UW Athletic Department where I was a shy, awkward student worker. She was such a bundle of positive energy and professionalism. She was always so very kind to me. Her strength and drive were an inspiration.
My most sincere condolences to her family and friends.
Mike Lude
May 4, 2020
Helen, worked with me as my administrative assistant for many years. She was the administrative assistant serving with me, the director of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Washington. Helen was a, loyal, strongly motivated, extremely dedicated effective team player. She was always early to work and stayed late whenever necessary. Helen was such an exceptionally strong Husky enthusiast and was always present lending here fantastic support in any way to support the various sports. I was very fortunate to have the privilege of working with Helen Molina.
Howard Morrill
May 3, 2020
Please accept my sincerest condolences. I look forward to seeing you at the celebration of Helen's life.
Sharron Cain
May 2, 2020
Dear David, Susan, Amy, Nick, Jaquelyn, ad Gregary,
I met Helen in my classroom when she began volunteering at Lynndale. I was the "beginning" of her tenure as a volunteer at Lynndale. Instead of a mother, she was the grandmother of Nick and Jaquelyn who volunteered in my Kindergarten class. She was a dedicated, hardworking, competent, and fun helper. I have one specific memory of her and the kind of "helper" she was. It was during the Nisqually Earthquake. Only one of the students was upset enough to cry while we were all hunkered down under our desks. Helen crawled over to her to comfort her. She wasn't asked to do this, she just saw the need and filled it. That is just one example of how she showed the love of "kids". She loved all of her children and talked about them to me, but she had such care and love for her grandchildren. Of course, I knew Nick, Jaquelyn, and Gregary because they were at my school and I had a personal connection to them. And, Amy, of course I knew you through your other volunteer work for Lynndale.
We shared another connection. Her birthday, Jan. 17th was just one day after mine - Jan. 16th, so several times we celebrated those dates with lunch out together.
I know you know how much she feared the disease that finally caught up with her. I was so sad to learn of it. She was so vital, energetic, and "with it". I always admired how much she was able to take care of herself - good diet, exercise, etc. She was beautiful and so "fit". She was the epitome of her saying: "We are like good red wine - we just get better with age". Well, for her, most of that was true until the very end.
I am so sorry for the loss of the person you knew as your mother/grandmother. But, I am sure you all know that she loved you always.
With the greatest sympathy for the loss of a wonderful mother/grandmother and my friend,
Sharron Cain
Rhonda Penrod
April 28, 2020
I worked at Lynndale Elementary in the office and enjoyed visiting with Helen each time she came in to volunteer. She was always so excited to help even when she no longer had grandchildren attending the school. I am so sorry for your loss. Hopefully lots of good memories will comfort you in this time of sorrow.
April 27, 2020
What a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to Helen. So sorry for your loss. She was a very special woman to so many. The family is in our thoughts and prayers. Pat & Dave Slusser
TONY PIRO
April 27, 2020
My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Helen at the UW Athletic Department. She was always kind, and remembered significant milestones in our lives. She was always a lady with class who was efficient, and definitely cared about others.
Dane Launius
April 26, 2020
Im sorry for your loss. May God bless you in this time of grief.
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