Helen “Peewee” Cunningham

Helen was born on January 15, 1928, at home in Demmon now Boston Location to Andrew and Pauline Karvonen. Helen attended school in Boston Location and Hancock, graduating from high school in 1945.

Helen married John (Jack) Cunningham in 1948 and they moved to Detroit, where they lived until 1978. While in Detroit, Helen and Jack raised four children, returning to the Copper Country regularly to vacation and visit relatives.

During these years, Helen also worked as a teacher’s aide in the Detroit Public School system. Helen and Jack moved back to live in Houghton in 1978.

Over the next two decades, Helen and Jack enjoyed spending their time at their camp on Houghton Canal and winters at a second home in Port Richey, Florida. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1998, a few months before Jack’s passing.

In 2004, Helen returned to the local area full time, living at her home in Hancock, where she enjoyed visiting with family and friends while indulging her lifelong passion for reading until her passing.

Helen is survived by her children, Jennifer Cunningham of Hancock; Daniel (Renee) Cunningham of Houghton and Mark Cunningham of Phoenix, Arizona; her grandchildren, Maryn Cunningham of Houghton and Mark Cunningham, Michael Cunningham and Daniel Cunningham, each of Hudson, Wisconsin. Helen is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Katherine (Kathy) Karvonen of Hancock and Barbara Cunningham of Everett, Washington, along with cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Preceding Helen in death, in addition to her parents and husband; were her son, John Andrew Cunningham; brother, Andrew Karvonen; half-brothers, Rudolph and Carl Karvonen; half-sister, Regina Luoka; mother-in-law, Mary Cunningham; and several uncles, aunts and cousins.

Helen requested that no formal celebration of her passing be held, but that each of us take personal time to celebrate the memories we each have of happier times we’ve spent with her throughout her long and giving life.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family requests any gifts be directed to the Keweenaw Spay/Neuter Group 55934 Lake Linden Ave, Laurium, 49913, in the name of Helen Cunningham.