Helen Shryock

Helen Kerber Ward Shryock of Salt Lake City died peacefully on Thanksgiving evening, November 26, 2015, in the arms of one of her wonderful friends. She was born in Pittsburgh, PA to John J. and Mary Egan "Mayme" Ward but after the death of her mother was raised in the Cumberland, MD area by relatives Dot and Will Kerber.
She married James Fuller "Pete" Shryock in Frostburg, MD on February 23, 1945 and moved to Utah in 1959 when her husband was transferred with Hercules, Inc. Pete preceded her in death on September 13, 1994. Helen and Pete were long-time faithful members of St. Thomas More Catholic Parish in Sandy. She also spent happy years as a civil servant at the US Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Benefit Office in Salt Lake City.
Helen is lovingly survived by nieces Mary Catherine Ward (Richard) Sherman of Cupertino, CA and Maria Frances Ward of Berkeley, MI; nephews Donald V. (Judith) Koch of East Amherst, NY, John Ward (Rosemary) Kearney of The Villages, FL, and Michael Philip (Vivian) Ward of Rye, NY as well as numerous great niece, nephews, and cousins. Additionally she is survived by Jack and Sue McCord of Holladay and Janet Romero of West Jordan, who have been her cherished friends and caregivers for many years; as well as many other great and long- time friends in the Salt Lake City area.
She happily reunites now with her husband Pete; sisters Margaret Kearney, Mary Spromberg, and Glendora Koch; brothers Frank Ward and John Ward, Jr.; her parents; the Kerbers; and nephew John Ward III.
A celebration of Helen's life will be held on Friday, January 15th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Complimentary valet parking will be available on the north side of the building. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 16th at 11:00 AM at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 3015 Creek Rd, Cottonwood Heights, UT. Inurnment to follow next to her beloved Pete at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 4th Ave. "T" Street, Salt Lake City. Special thanks to The Wellington staff and the many friendships made there.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah (www.moraneyecenter.org) to aid in research of age related macular degeneration.