Helen Alice Bird

Helen Alice Bird, 97, of Auburn died Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at Auburn Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

She was born December 4, 1920 in North Adams, Massachusetts, the daughter of Julius Joseph and Alice Hunter Modlinger.  On June 25, 1941 she married William Gardiner Bird, Jr. in North Adams, Massachusetts.

Mrs. Bird attended Aurora University for three years.  When her husband enlisted in the Navy during WWII, she and their two small children boarded a train in Wisconsin to stay with her parents in Massachusetts during the war.

Helen supervised the handling of teacher certification for the State of Illinois for several years.  She faithfully attended all school functions with her husband, during his tenure in education and she was active in church.  Most recently she was a member of Auburn United Methodist Church.  In addition, she enjoyed playing bridge, knitting, crocheting, and took great pleasure in attending the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include one son, William “Bill” (Pam) Bird III of Auburn; sister-in-law, Shine Modlinger of Freeport; a son-in-law, John Drush of Kansas; six grandchildren, William G. (Dawn) Bird IV, Missy (George III) Knight, Laura (Bruce) Eaker, Paul (Wendy) Drush, Scott (Diane) Drush, Christopher (M.J.) Drush; fifteen great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter, Ruth Anne Drush; and four siblings, Bernard, Ruth, Ralph and Roy.

A private family burial will precede a memorial service at the Auburn United Methodist Church at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2018 with Rev. Brian Caughlan officiating.

Memorials may be made to the W.G. Bird Jr. Teachers’ Scholarship, which is administered by American Legion Post 277.