Helene Suarez Mau

Helene Suarez Mau, age 84 went home to be with her Lord and Savior on August 6th, 2021. Her family was by her side at Croasdaile Village in Durham, North Carolina.
Helene is the oldest of three children. She was born to Norman and Helen Suarez on February 6th, 1937 in Pensacola, Florida. She grew up in Pensacola and spent many summers at the Suarez’s fish camp on Soldier’s Creek in nearby Lillian, Alabama. She had fond memories there and Helene and Jim continued to take their family to the fish camp each summer. Helene enjoyed having her extended family, the Testman’s and Suarez’s families living close by. They always found a reason to gather together for frequent visits and fish fry’s at the Suarez fish camp.
Helene attended Pensacola High School and then Sacred Heart Nursing School with her best friend Gayle Cramer. She started her nursing career in Pensacola, Florida.
Helene met the love of her life, Jim Mau, a Marine in flight school at the Naval Base in Pensacola, Florida. They were married on March 5th, 1960.
In 1963, they moved to Durham, North Carolina and they both worked at Duke Hospital. Helene’s love of nursing continued at DUPAC and The Center For Living. She made lifelong friends while working at Duke. Helene was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend to many.
She is preceded in death by her parents Norman & Helen Suarez and her brother, Randy Suarez. She is survived by her brother, Don (Kristi) Suarez; sister-in-law, Marsha Suarez; husband of 61 years, James C. Mau; son, Greg C. Mau; daughters, Sharon (Todd) Patton, Jill (Chris) Ivy; along with her cherished grandchildren; Grant & Sarah & Helen Patton and Tanner & Carson Ivy.
Helene worshiped at the Duke University Chapel where she was one of the Founding members of The Congregation at Duke University Chapel. She loved the dear friends she made while at the Duke Chapel and serving on the Altar Guild Committee.
Helene’s family would like to express their sincere appreciation and thanks to her caregivers at Croasdaile Village.
A service to celebrate Helene’s life will be in Few Chapel at Croasdaile Village on Saturday, August 21st at 3:30 pm. There will be visitation with the family at 2:30 in the foyer to The Chapel. The family would like to invite our friend’s to Spark’s Park, an outdoor pavilion at Croasdaile Village for refreshments at 4:30 pm.