Helen Thursh

Helen Thursh, 91, passed away on Wednesday, February 5 after a brief illness. She was a longtime resident of Savoy, living her last years at Clark Lindsey in Urbana. She was born on March 6, 1933, to Louis Levinson and Rebecca Levinson Rouse in Brooklyn New York. She attended New York’s High School of Music and Art. She graduated from Queens Collage with a degree in English. She married Donald Thursh in 1958. 

Helen worked as a medical editor in Chicago and Seattle where she edited numerous medical papers, books and coauthored publications. After moving to Champaign in 1977 she attended nursing school at Parkland College and finished her bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois. She worked at (then) Mercy Hospital for several years. She returned to school and become a Nurse-Practitioner in Psychology. She worked at Christy Clinic for 10 years and then went into private practice as a psychotherapist in Champaign. Helen loved creating pottery, beading and writing poetry.

 Helen was predeceased by her Parents, Stepfather David Rouse, and her ex-husband Donald Thursh. 

She is survived by her two children: Louis Thursh, Jody (Mark) Klawinski; six grandchildren Marian (Matt) Blankenship, Rebecca (Paul) DiGeorgio, Tyler (Erica) Klawinski, Alex Thursh, Nathan Klawinski, and David Thursh; eight great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held in March.