Helen A. Cissell, 85, of Perryville, Missouri passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at Independence Care Center.
She was born December 2, 1940 to Bernard L. and Wilhelmina C. (Unterreiner) Clifton.
Helen and Ronald J. Cissell were married September 26, 1964 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Perryville, MO.
Helen was born in Perry County as the oldest of 8 Clifton children. She grew up on a farm, helping milk the cows and tending to the family garden. She attended St. Vincent de Paul Catholic school and graduated in 1959. She attended and graduated from Cape Girardeau School of Beauty Culture Inc. She then moved to St. Louis, MO and worked at J.I. Case Company in their administration office. She utilized her beauty school skills styling hair for family and friends in her spare time. After a few years, she chose to come back to Perryville to plant roots where her family resided and upon doing so, fell in love with her soon-to-be husband, Ronald Cissell.
Helen was a loving and faithful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter and sister. She worked at Rozier’s grocery department as a checker and was a friend to everyone that came to her checkout lane. She knew a large majority of people in Perryville and prided herself on knowing their family history.
Her grandchildren were her pride and joy: when they came to shop at Rozier’s, she always let them help her check their groceries (and also the next customers’ in line). She rarely declined an opportunity to babysit or spend time with her grandchildren. She was known for letting them watch old movies (The Sound of Music being the crowd favorite) repeatedly, going for walks & riding bikes at Legion Park, playing kickball in her backyard, and allowing them to run around on her roof and pick up sticks! She would always reward them with a fresh strawberry banana milkshake.
Her love of travel entailed visiting numerous countries, always with her daughter Natalia, grandson Lucas, or with a group of her beloved friends. When she retired, she spent most of her days enjoying her vast and beautiful flower gardens, as well as taking drives with her husband, Ron, to “See Tony’s farm”. She was talented and creative in decorating her home inside and out, and always had a distinct, eclectic style that was all her own.
Most of all, she cherished her family and made Sunday evening meals a priority for many years. Her specialty was coconut cream pie and homemade chicken & dumplings. Every year at Christmas she would make her famous caramel popcorn, and if you were lucky, she gifted you a special bag of this delicious snack.
She may have been small in stature, but she had a personality that sparkled. Helen impacted everyone she met in life, and we are all better people to have had the opportunity to know and love her.
Helen was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Perryville.
Survivors include her daughter, Natalia Beasley of Perryville; son, Anthony “Tony” (Katherine) Cissell of Perryville; brother, Russell (Cheri) Clifton of Perryville; three sisters, Barbara (Denis) Ernst of Perryville, Catherine (Michael) Brockmann of Waterloo, IL, Julia (John) Compton of Pena Blanca, NM; six grandchildren, Lucas (Courtney) Cissell, Emily (Joel) Kapp, Holly (Trent) Elder, Nicholas Cissell, Brandon (Taylor) Beasley, Stephanie Beasley and ten great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three brothers, Dennis Clifton, Eugene Clifton, Bernard “Sonny” Clifton.
Visitation will be from 6:30 am to 9:30 am on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Ford & Young Funeral Home in Perryville.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am Saturday, September 26, 2026 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Perryville with the Rev. Fred Wandera C.M. officiating.
Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Perryville.
Memorial contributions may be given to St. Vincent de Paul School.
Online condolences may be made at www.fordandyoungfuneralhome.com.
Ford & Young Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.