In Memoriam: Helyn Teno Novak (1924-2024)

Helyn Teno Novak, age 100, was born November 3, 1924 in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. A 70-year resident of Riverwoods and Lincolnshire, Illinois, she died November 15.

Growing up just outside Minneapolis, Helyn graduated from Columbia Heights High School and entered the Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II. She graduated from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul and received her RN in 1946. She married Daniel F. Novak, a WWII veteran, in 1949. They moved to Chicago, where he completed a PhD in clinical psychology from Loyola University. She studied anesthesia at Wesley Memorial Hospital and became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

They built a home and family in Riverwoods, Illinois, and Helyn worked for 40 years at Lake Forest and Highland Park Hospitals, finally retiring at age 73. She specialized in the operating room and obstetrics. She especially loved providing anesthesia to mothers as they gave birth.

After retiring, Helyn became a volunteer naturalist at Ryerson Conservation Center and loved visiting the woods. She enjoyed teaching school children about birds, mammals, and the natural environment, and led them on educational and holiday hikes through the forest. Helyn was also a veteran traveler, visiting over 50 countries and 40 states. She loved studying history, visiting museums and having new culinary experiences. Her favorite places included Italy, Japan, Thailand, Greece, and the majesty of the western U.S. national parks.

Helyn was tirelessly compassionate and everyone’s cheerleader, spreading kindness through her words, letters and actions. She never forgot a birthday, a holiday, or an opportunity to show love.

Helyn was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel F. Novak; her parents, Helen and Joseph Teno; and siblings Mary Pisansky, Magdalene Zeglen, and Joseph Teno. She is survived by daughter Nona, son Marc, grandson Daniel J. (Melanie) Novak, and many nieces and nephews. A Memorial will be held at Holy Cross Church, Deerfield, Illinois on Friday, December 6 at noon CT and will be livestreamed at holycrossparish.net/live. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Ryerson Woods or Orphans of the Storm animal shelter.

This obituary was originally published on the Cremation Society of Illinois’ website.