Helen Marie (Haggerty) Sell, 87, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 29, 2014. Born in Rochester, MN to Alice (Hall) and Allen Haggerty on March 10, 1927, she graduated from Lourdes High School, Saint Mary's School of Nursing, and later earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota. Helen worked several years as a Registered Nurse at Saint Mary's Hospital caring for patients as well as instructing in the Saint Mary's Diploma Nursing Program. With a desire to educate, she continued as an instructor at the Rochester Vocational School with the Human Service Technician Program until her retirement in 1990.

Helen wed Louis J. Sell on May 28, 1949. Together they had five children, and enjoyed 51 years of marriage until his death on December 2, 2000.

Helen was involved in numerous activities. These included being an active member of St. Francis Catholic Church in Rochester, MN with the Christian Family Movement, Saint Mary's Filipino Foster Parent Program, Board Meetings at Bear Creek Services, Red Hat Society, Dorothy Day Board Member, and she was instrumental in obtaining a furnished Hospice room at what is now known as Golden Living Center East in Rochester, MN. This is a small sample of her passion to volunteer. Her social calendar was bursting with activities such as gardening, playing cards, coffee groups, birthday lunches, bridge, swimming, church functions, and traveling to visit family and friends. A calendar does not exist to fit the fun this social butterfly had!

Helen was one of eight children, and was preceded in death by her parents, her four brothers, Dick, Larry, Joe, and David Haggerty, and her husband Louie. She is survived by her siblings: Phyllis Riley, Allie (Carl) Mulvihill, and Denis (Cathy) Haggerty; her five children: Mike (Laurie) Sell, Monica (Roger) Ely, Brenda (Scott) Meier, Rita (Dan) Marquardt, Kevin (Lisa Harnack) Sell. She also has 12 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Her family and friends were the most important treasures in her life, and she always lived well, laughed often, and loved much.

Visitation will be held at Macken Funeral Home in the River Park Chapel from 2-5pm on Sunday, November 2 ^nd . A funeral Mass will be held at 11am on Monday, November 3 ^rd at St. Francis Church, with the Rev. Mark McNea officiating.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the mass, and lunch immediately following the service. Burial will follow lunch at Calvary Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be forwarded to St. Francis of Assisi Church or the Dorothy Day House. Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com