Helen H. Peng
Helen H. Peng (née Wen) passed away at home on 9 January 2024 at the age of
87. She was the daughter of C.S. Wen (Father) and W.S. Wen (née Ren) (Mother),
beloved wife of T.C. Peng, and mother of Lawrence W. Peng, (partner: P.C. Lim, son Ryan Z.
Peng), Diana W. Smith, (partner: David Smith, son Jacob A. Overton, daughter Jennifer A.
Overton), Jeff W. Peng, (partner Cheryl L. Schairer, daughter Shelby L. Peng), and Kirk Louie,
(partner: Linda Louie, daughter Lauren Louie, son Brent Louie).
Helen was born 7 October 1936 in the greater Shanghai area in Jiangsu province, China. Due to
war time conditions, she grew up in different parts of the country, including Sichuan province,
Xi-an (Shaanxi province), Beijing, and then Taipei (Taiwan) . She excelled in both public
speaking/debate and voice.
Helen arrived on her own in the U.S. in 1955, having been awarded a scholarship for the St.
Joseph School of Nursing in Lewiston, Montana. Toward the completion of her degree, she met
by chance, T.C. Peng at a convention in Champaign-Urbana, IL. The two eventually married in
1958. Sadly, Helen would only see her family in Taiwan a handful of times due to the difficulties
of international travel.
Subsequently, Helen and TC’s careers took them to Palo Alto, Seattle, Santa Barbara, and
finally, Creve Coeur Missouri, growing a family in the process.
Helen’s career included 26 years as an R.N. in the neonatal intensive care unit at St. John’s
Mercy Hospital, in Creve Coeur, MO. She became a highly respected colleague, cherished for
her expertise, empathy, and tirelessness. She made life-long friends– the “Eight is Enough”
group.
In 1999, Helen and TC moved from St. Louis County to the O’Fallon area, and finally Lake St.
Louis, MO. in close contact with her beloved daughter, Diana W. Smith, and her family.
Helen’s priority was always the well-being of her children and grandchildren. She provided
them with love and guidance that has lifted their lives. She remains their guiding spirit.
Please consider a donation to Nurses for Newborns in Helen’s memory.
Our condolences with you all… we commiserate with you at this time of grief.
Om Shanthi.
So sorry she is gone. Enjoyed meeting and getting to know her. Even learned a bit about Chinese cooking from her. Rest in peace Helen. You will be well remembered.
What an inspiring life and what a wonderful legacy Helen created for her family. We want to pass on our condolences and say that we deeply understand the grief the family feels. May she rest in peace.
Helen was my preceptor when I started at St. John’s in 1981. I loved her. She was so kind and patient. I will remember her always
I was honored to work with Helen in the NICU at St John’s Mercy. She was an amazing advocate for her patients and wonderfully strong coworker. Helen was always ready with a smile and always an inspiration. Rest in peace, friend.
Oh how I loved Helen. I worked with her over 20 years in the NICU at St John’s. She taught me so very much about the babies and most of all how to gently care for the babies and the families. She was a strong advocate for the babies. She was also a dear friend that I could confide in about my own struggles with my family. She would always listen. She was an important person in my life.
She was a great teacher, coworker and friend. I will miss her.
Helen…what an amazing, compassionate lady. And, lady she was! There was always a happy calm when Helen was near. She will be so missed by so many. Rest well, Helen!
Helen was a sweet and kind and gentle nurse and an inspiration to all who were fortunate to have worked with her in the NICU. Many families are certainly thankful that their infants were in her capable and caring hands. Rest in peace, Helen.