Helen Ehret Obituary

Ehret, Helen

Ehret, Helen (Honey) Carey

Helen (Honey) Carey Ehret, age 93, born in Chicago to Ann Lyons Carey and Robert Francis

Carey, resided in Lake Forest, IL and York Harbor, Maine, and was a longtime parishioner of the

Church of Saint Mary. Devoted, feisty and proud Navy wife and co-pilot of James (Jim) Daniel

Ehret, (Captain USN ret), sister to Tom, Bob, Jean O'Neill, Judy Tharp Curtin and Tony and

their spouses, aunt, friend, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother and godmother.

Honey attended St. Phillip Neri and St. Xavier High Schools on the South Side of Chicago and

swam competitively on the Long Beach Country Club Swim Team in Long Beach, IN where the

family summered. Honey attended college at Maryland College for Women, Dunbarton College

of the Holy Cross (now Howard University), and Loyola University of Chicago. For many years

she worked with her father, Robert F. Carey as his legal secretary at Castle, Brintlinger, Carey,

and Filter. She was also her father's right hand at the family business and director of events at

Hawthorne Race Course and Carey Brick Company.

Honey's adventurous spirit led her to a wide array of remarkable exploits. She took flying lessons

and soloed a Piper Cub, survived an avalanche in the French Alps, and skied on some of the

world's most renowned slopes. She once took a helicopter to the top of an Alaskan glacier before

embarking on a thrilling dog-sledding expedition. Her travels also took her to Thailand, where

she rode an elephant, and to Egypt, where she journeyed on camelback. Among her many

passions, Honey had a special affection for her 1955 Ford Thunderbird, which she drove a

staggering 330,000 miles-always eager to be the first one out of the tollbooth.

Her biggest adventure was marrying Jim and living the Navy life. They moved 18 times in 22

years. Honey would drive her five children cross country by herself in an RV towing a VW

Beetle when her husband's duty station changed. She loved encouraging her children and

grandchildren and always supported their endeavors. She became an extraordinarily savvy real

estate investor, 'and developed a unique and eclectic taste in interior design, antiques, and

"moving furniture". She could be a bit naughty about following rules, preferring to make her

own. She loved learning about history, architecture, music, especially opera, organizing family

events, and often sent people on their honeymoons. She was a voracious reader sometimes

reading a book a day. She and Jim prioritized faith, family, education and service to others.

Honey will be missed by her husband of 60 years, her five children: Dr. Ann Nora Ehret (Rick

Fehst) of Alaska; Elizabeth St. Brigid Bardwell (Dwight) of York, Maine; James Anthony Carey

Ehret (fiancée' Emily Del Balso Knight) of Strafford, NH; Mary April Ehret Sullivan of Western

Springs, IL; and Sean Joseph Ehret (Jennifer) of Creve Coeur, MO. She was outwardly grateful

and proud of her twelve grandchildren Sharon Ehret Cross (Brandon), Austin Grosvenor Ehret

(Kayla), Broderick James Ehret, Zoe Grace Bardwell, John Daniel Bardwell, and Alexis

Elizabeth Bardwell, Fiona Kate Sullivan, Keira Elizabeth Sullivan, Caroline Grace Sullivan,

David Declan Ehret, Luke Daniel Ehret, Elise Jacqueline Ehret and her first great-grandchild

Adam Neal Cross. She was one of a kind.

Wake: Saturday, Nov 16, 2024, 9:30-11am at Gorton Center, 400 E Illinois Rd, Lake Forest, IL.

Mass of Christian Burial, Saturday November 16, 2024, at 11:30am, Church of St. Mary's, 175 E

Illinois Rd., Lake Forest, IL. Private Interment. Send flowers to: Gorton Center address.

In lieu of flowers make donation to Church of Saint Mary's Fr. Barry Fund, 201 E. Illinois Rd.

Lake Forest, IL 60045.

Arrangements by Sullivan Funeral Home Hinsdale. 630-323-0275 or

www.sullivanfuneralhomehinsdale.com

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