Helen Parten Chiocco, 91, an Alabama native, died on Sunday, July 4, 2021, in Fairhope, of complications from a stroke.
Helen was a hairdresser and business owner, before she retired to travel, owning several salons in Mobile, including Charmaine’s, Coiffures by Helen and the Carriage Trade in Springhill. After she retired, she moved to Fairhope, worked as a hairdresser part-time, and became actively involved in Weight Watchers for many years. She was a member of Fairhope Community Church.
She was born May 5, 1930, to Graves and Erma Parten in Jackson, Ala. She was the oldest of four siblings, Buddy Parten, Nancy Louise Sealy and Ruth Taylor.
She is survived by her son, James Russell, and daughter, Barbara Blackford; sister, Nancy Sealy; daughter in law, Paula Blevins-Russell, and son-in-law, Bob Argo, grandson, Daniel Pickle; and great-grandchildren, Jacob, Andrew, Kennedy and Jackson Pickle. She was also survived by her dog and constant companion, Lacey, who now has a home with her son and daughter-in-law.
Helen was preceded in death by her son, Charles Richard Pickle, her sister, Ruth and brother, Buddy.
She loved action and motion: work, travel, gardening, walking, and later in life, simply riding around the streets and county roads of Baldwin County. She had grit, determination, and tenacity, which helped her through nine decades of life, from growing up during the Great Depression, to surviving divorce and the death of a spouse, to living with dementia. Helen “called it the way she saw it” and never minced words. When she put her mind to something, she did it, whether it was building a business or putting in a new garden. She was a force to be reckoned with until she died. She will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her.
A memorial service will be held for Helen on Sunday, August 29, 2021, at 2 p.m. at Hughes Funeral Home, 26209 Pollard Road, in Daphne.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Dementia Spotlight Foundation at https://dementiaspotlightfoundation.org
Arrangements are by Hughes Funeral Home, 26209 Pollard Road, Daphne, 36526. 251-621-5890. hughesfuneralhome.org.
