Meiswinkel, Helen A. Helen Ann Meiswinkel passed away peacefully with her family by her side on August 13, 2011. Helen was born in San Francisco on June 24, 1926, the first child of Irish immigrants Helen and Frank Cassidy. She grew up in the Mission District and helped raise her six brothers and sisters. Helen was born with a congenital hip dysplasia which prompted many challenges in her life but she never let this stop her. She met her husband Leonard in an elevator while working at the Pacific Bell Telephone Company. They fell in love and married months later on October 1, 1949 settling in the City where Leonard became a San Francisco fire fighter. She and Leonard moved to San Rafael in 1961 with their children, Kevin, Dolores and Sheila. During those years, Helen raised their children and worked. In 1970 they moved to Novato where daughter Lisa Marie was born. After retirement, Helen relocated to Santa Rosa where she volunteered at Kaiser Permanente Hospital for 17 years. She enjoyed helping at Kaiser and wanted to give back to those that cared for her. Helen loved nothing more than to spend time with her family. Helen is survived by her husband Leonard, children, Kevin Meiswinkel (Pat), Dolores Burden (Steve), Sheila Robertson (Mike) and Lisa Meiswinkel, 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her beloved siblings, Frank Cassidy (Judy), Willie Cassidy, Maureen Cassidy, Dolores Bondanza (Joe), Rosaleen Adams (Tony), Bridie Brawley (Tom), Nancy Cook and many nieces and nephews. A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 26 at 10:00 a.m. at St Rose Church in Santa Rosa. Heartfelt thanks to all of the wonderful staff at Kaiser Permanente who cared for Helen over the years and to Sutter VNA Hospice. The family requests donations to Sutter VNA Hospice. Published in the Press Democrat from August 23 to August 24, 2011