Eleanor Rae Helmick, 73, was called home on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. She was born in Lumberton, NC but grew up in Newport News where she lived out the majority of her life. She retired from Danny’s Deli in the Warwick Shopping Center after 45 years, where she always greeted customers with a smile and a bowl of dill pickles. It was in her time there that she made her closest of friendships with customers and coworkers alike. She was a member of Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church in Gloucester, VA. Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Jacqueline Church; sisters Dorothy Cobb and Mary Ann Petrel; son Howard Raymond Helmick; and her life companion Barry Dean Trexler.

Survivors include her children, Raymond Church and his wife Dawn; granddaughters Alexis and Autumn, and Howard Helmick and his wife Stephanie; grandchildren Christian, Alissa and Jr.; siblings Ray Church and his wife Judy and family, and Woody Church and his wife Teresa and family, Judy Brisson and husband Dennis and family; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

The family will have a time of visitation from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, September 10, 2021, at Peninsula Funeral Home. The CDC highly recommends masks for inside gatherings. A graveside service will be at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 11 at Hampton Veterans Memorial Gardens.

Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.