Obituary of Hannelore Edeltraud Berta

Hannelore Edeltraud Berta (Helbing) Sheafe died of heart disease on Monday, July 28, 2014, in Olympia, Washington, at the age of 79. She passed peacefully from this life at St. Peter Hospital, surrounded by family. A daughter of a forester, she was born to Friedrich G. and Elly (Willand) Helbing on August 13, 1934, in Blasbach, Hessen, Germany. She was the third of six sisters raised near Wetzlar, Germany. She loved being in the forest there, surrounded by nature and wildlife. She graduated from business college at age 18 and worked at secretarial and bookkeeping jobs. She came to the United States in 1959, becoming a U. S. citizen a few years later. She earned a Ph. D. in nutrition in 1984 and was a self-employed massage practitioner and taught foot reflexology to many in the Olympia area until her retirement at the age of 62. Hannelore married Roy W. Russell in San Diego, California. They had two daughters and, shortly afterward, moved to Olympia, Washington, where they made their home. She later married Harry P. Sheafe, a chiropractor in Olympia. They had one daughter. For many years, she sponsored children through World Vision and Compassion International. She became a published author in 1987, and went on to write numerous books and other publications about natural healing. Hannelore’s love for music began in Germany where she and her sisters performed together in a singing group. She acquired a large collection of musical instruments and loved playing them for her family. Hannelore kept a large garden for many years, taking pride in being able to provide her family with organic produce. She is survived by daughters, Susanne P. Hubbs (Russell) and husband George of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Karen C. Russell of Orcas Island, Washington, and Christa M.S. Richardson (Sheafe) and wife Deanne of Olympia, Washington; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and sisters, Ursula Alexander of Poulsbo, Washington, Wiltrut Bentrott of Encinitas, California, Heidrun Schrottky of Grossaltenstadten, Germany, and Berta Schweinberger of Richmond, California. She was preceded in death by husband, Harry, in 1992 and sister, Christa Bressette of Three Rivers, Massachusetts in 2012. There was a private family service. The family invites you to share your memories of Hannelore in the online guestbook. If you wish to honor her memory in some way, the family suggests an act of caring for nature. Please leave memories of Hannelore or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.