by Joy Corey
Helen Kosowan Weddle was born December 27, 1927, in Canada’s Province of Saskatchewan and was raised up on the family’s farm which undoubtedly would have contributed to her many years of good health and strength. She is the eldest member, and one of the founders, of St. John’s.
Helen married James Aldan Weddle on January 7, 1955, at Great Falls Air Force Base in Montana, gave birth to their son James Nicholas on March 15, 1959, at the Air Force Base in Louisiana and on May 23, 1961, becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States.
In late 1992, Joy Corey was introduced to Helen, a Ukrainian Orthodox Christian, who was attending the local Lutheran Church as there were no Orthodox Churches in north Idaho at the time. Helen was grateful to return to her Orthodox roots and quickly became an exemplary member of the community, giving of her time, talent and money to help establish the first Orthodox Church in the Idaho Panhandle.
Helen worked tirelessly and always with a smile – anything to help further the cause of Orthodoxy. Milking cows and working the family farm in her youth made her hands strong which made famous the St. John’s Sisterhood of Sts. Martha and Mary’s baked goods. When asked if we needed a Mixmaster to knead the dough, we said, “No! We have Helen Weddle’s hands, and no machine could come close to her!” She regularly cleaned the church, never missed a service, and attended the Spiritual Circle every week in Joy’s home. Since November 6, 2019, Helen resided at the Creekside Inn, on 4th Street in Coeur d’Alene. In 2024, a group of ladies and Fr. Joseph & Kh. Susan attended her 97th birthday celebration that Terri Sjoblom and Joy Corey planned. With sadness for us all, but with hope in the resurrection, Helen reposed Sep 13th, 2025. May her memory be eternal!