Helen M. Bliss of Jacksonville, Florida passed away peacefully on Monday May 6, 2019. She was 97.  Helen was born on March 11, 1922 in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of Howard and Vassie Katherine (Fitzgerald) Miles.

The wife of a Naval Commander, Walter D. Bliss, Helen was primarily a homemaker and was involved in Navy wives' club activities, scouts, golf associations, and garden circles.  Though born and raised in Kansas, she adapted to the family's various duty stations, by making lifelong friends, hosting parties, and even learning to water ski while stationed in Pensacola. When husband, Walt, retired from the Navy and prior to their move to Orlando for Walt's new career with US Steel, Helen worked as a secretary for a tree service and for the public schools in Jacksonville.

Helen enjoyed good health well into her 90s and had a wide range of interests including golf, bridge, volunteering, and sewing.  At age 95 she was still sewing sundresses for clients of Downtown Ecumenical Services Council through the "Sewing Hope" project. She was also still playing a solidly competitive game of bridge. Helen valued her friendships deeply - golf friends, bridge friends, neighborhood friends and church friends.  She was a member of Arlington Congregational Church since she and Walt moved back to Jacksonville in 1988.  She appreciated the work of the church in the community and its support of its members (including her).

Helen loved and was deeply committed to her immediate and extended family.  She is survived by her son, Richard Bliss, and daughter Katherine Bliss Para (Bud); her nine grandchildren: Jeffrey Bliss (Lana), Ryan Bliss (Melissa), Laurel Bliss Shaw (Chris), Michael Bliss (Marissa), Holly Bliss Cochrane (Pete), Jennifer Bliss Hartsock (Garry), Erin Bliss Greene (Chad), Kimberly Para Allen (Patrick), and Miles Laura Para (Kyler Alford). She was also blessed with twenty great grandchildren: Loriann, Adeline, Jessa, Sydney, Jacob, Noelle, Ellie, Riley, Hayden, Isaac, Ida, Levon, Nova, Benjamin, Isabella, Naomi, Evey, Owen, Cora, and Rainer.

Helen was preceded in death by her son, John Phillip Bliss, her husband, Walter D. Bliss, and her daughter-in-law, Joan Potter Bliss.

She will be deeply missed but we celebrate her long life of giving and loving.

Donations in Helen's honor to Arlington Congregational Church are encouraged and will be appreciated.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 am on Friday, May 10th at the Arlington Congregational Church, 431 University Blvd N, Jacksonville, Florida. Reverend Dr. Bruce Havens will officiate.  Helen's final resting place will be in Arlington Park Cemetery.