Helen Dolores (Quinlan) Cloyd

MADISON- Helen Dolores (Quinlan) Cloyd, age 87, a beloved daughter of Thomas and Mary Schonhoff Quinlan, went to live in paradise with the Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother on Oct. 26, 2011, following a brief illness. She was born in East Dubuque, Ill., on Jan. 6, 1924. Helen was employed by the Madison Metropolitan School District as a secretary to the principal of Madison Central High School until its closure in 1969. She then worked for the bookkeeping department in the school district central administration office until her retirement in 1988. In her retirement, Helen took up knitting and created spectacular multi-colored quilts for her family, friends and church raffles. She deeply loved her family and relatives and was fond of gaming at Ho-Chunk Casino, and especially slot machine poker and scratch-off lottery tickets. Helen was a wonderful cook with a 1950\'s copy of the Betty Crocker cookbook that is spattered from decades of use. She was “mom” to three family pets over the years, Queenie, Kelly and Zippy, respectively a German Shepherd, English-Irish Setter and Toy Poodle. Helen loved spending time with her family at our summer cottage near Manitowish Waters, which overlooked Papoose Lake. She is lovingly remembered for her smile, personality and especially her laugh. Helen was predeceased by her parents; husband, Edward Cloyd; sisters, Lillian and Eleanor; and brothers, Delmar and Dorrance. She is survived by her twin sons, Steven and George of Madison; and a nephew, Thomas Lalor; and a niece, Kathy (Lalor) Burger of Monona. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, with Monsignor Kenneth Fiedler officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. We want to thank the staff at Meriter Hospital, Madison, 8th Floor Atrium, for their profound skill, understanding and compassion. In her late years, mom was fond of saying to her sons, “I have two of the best.” We know we had the very best mother! Dearest, sweetest mama..... God bless you! We will love and hold you in our hearts forever. Your sons, Steve and George. Cemetery: Burial will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, with Monsignor Kenneth Fiedler officiating.