Helen Cecilia Knudtson

Helen Cecilia Knudtson, 73, beloved wife, mother, “Mamaw” and girlfriend, passed away Saturday, January 25, 2014, after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Rosary will be 7 p.m., Thursday, January 30; Funeral Mass, 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 31, both at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 3636 N. Ridge Road in Wichita. Preceded in death by parents, Leo and Gertrude McKernan; brother, John McKernan, and grandson, Daniel Persons. Survived by loving husband of 52 years, Dr. David O. Knudtson of Wichita; daughters, Pam Persons (Steve) of Towanda, Karen Seiler (Kent) of Garden Plain; sons, Dr. John Knudtson (Peggy) of Wichita, Dr. Eric Knudtson (Julie) of Oklahoma City, OK; sister, Mary Perry of Wichita; brother, Tom McKernan of Shawnee; grandchildren, Jenna Persons Clem (Andrew), Lindsey Seiler Pitts (Josh), Grant Seiler, Nick Seiler, Ryan Knudtson, Wesley Knudtson, George Knudtson, Claire Knudtson and Margot Knudtson. Helen was a dynamic woman who possessed a nearly limitless supply of positive energy. Her passions included good food, good wine, travel, art, music, creative projects and entertaining friends and family. She loved the “creative process”. This might involve cooking, sewing, decorating, junking or crafting. Nearly all her friends and family have pillows, jewelry, curtains, etc., that she made for them. You never knew when she would suddenly stop the car because she saw a treasure in someone elses curbside trash. After refinishing and/or reupholstering it, shed create something surprisingly beautiful. She had a wide, diverse circle of wonderful friends and was a “surrogate” mother to several women. People were drawn to her energy, and her sense of adventure and fun. However, she loved her family above all else. She told her husband, David, many times, “the only thing I ever really wanted was a family.” Throughout the nearly four years that she battled cancer, she maintained her sense of humor and positive outlook. She taped this to her refrigerator door: “I am fighting to stay alive not because I fear death, but because I love life.” Memorials have been established at St. Catherine of Siena School Art Room Building Fund in Memory of Helen Knudtson/Daniel Persons, 3636 N. Ridge Rd., Wichita, KS 67205 and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita, KS 67202. Downing Lahey Mortuary West.