Obituary of Helen P Barlow

Helen Barlow, 87, passed away on Friday August 22, 2014 from a stroke. She was at home in Novi, Michigan in the company of her children. Helen is predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Roland Barlow, and survived by her five children: Leslie (Tom), Neil (Kim), Dane, Andrea (Don), Nina (Rod); four grandchildren: Ian (Maija), Tom (Kelly), Lauren, Jane (Adam); and three great grandchildren: Dexter, Johann, and Jolene. She is also survived by her brother Frank Batchelder, sister Betty Batchelder, nephew Tom Batchelder and niece Susan Batchelder. Helen was a dedicated wife and mother and a prolific artist. She was born and raised in Orange, NJ and studied fashion design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Helen and Roland married in New Jersey in January 1953 and moved to Detroit in 1956. They bought a house in Madison Heights, Michigan, and raised their family there for the next 50 years. Helen was a terrific cook, welcoming all to her table, and she was very talented in numerous art mediums, passing on her enthusiasm and interest in art to her children and grandchildren. Helen was also an expert seamstress and taught her three daughters to sew at an early age. As a prolific potter in the 70's she made hundreds of stoneware sets of dishes and sold them at art fairs throughout the Metro Detroit area. In the 80's and 90's she resumed watercolor painting, which she had learned in college, and created scores of works which are cherished by her family and friends. Helen belonged to and founded several artists groups in the Metro Detroit area, and continued to actively enjoy art activities with family and friends until her death. In 2006 Roland and Helen moved into the Fox Run retirement community in Novi, Michigan. At Fox Run Helen co-founded a sewing and craft guild and shared her work in public exhibitions. She also was the charter member of a women's luncheon group that shared numerous outings to local performances, exhibits and restaurants. All who knew Helen found her to be warm, funny and extremely generous. She was always ready with a helpful hint or sage advice and we will miss her greatly and always value the large influence she had on our lives. The family contact is daughter Nina Barlow at nina@ninabarlow.com and (248) 302-6570. Memorial Service: Saturday, September 20, 2014, at 2pm Rose Court Garden Room Fox Run Community 41215 Fox Run Road Novi, MI 48377 The party will be held in the Garden Room of the Rose Court building. Light refreshments will be served with lots of stories and love