Helen Witherspoon, a loving angel God lent us to protect us and raise us to be strong, kind human beings, passed away March 10, 2010. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Paul and Helen Brosnan Hempel and widow of James Witherspoon.
She was a salesperson at Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet.
She is survived by her children, Candace Butler (Sue) of Columbus, Karen Seifried (Chuck) of Phoenix, Ariz., Paul Butler (Patty) of Tejeras, N.M., William Butler (Diana), Robert Butler (Ria) and Joel Harris, all of Phoenix, Ariz.; and her grandchildren, Ryan Butler, Los Angeles, Calif., Erica Butler of Colorado Springs, Colo., Alex Seifried of Phoenix, Ariz., Chuck Seifried of Carlsbad, N.M., Brody Butler and Wyatt Butler, both of Phoenix, Ariz.
She was predeceased by a brother, Carl Hempel, and a granddaughter, Minami Butler.
A memorial mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 13 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, conducted by Father Patrick Winslow. The family will receive friends following the service at the home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Drive, Columbus, N.C. 28722 or to The Director, The National Cancer Institute, Building 31, Room 11A-16, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Md. 20892.
Condolences may be left at www.pettyfuneralhome.com.
Petty Funeral Home & Crematory, Landrum.