Helen Roelker (Sparrow) Sisk peacefully passed away, at home and surrounded by family, on Thursday, October 1, 2015. A master gardener, committed environmentalist, and devoted mother, Helen dedicated her life to nurturing her daughters, Lucinda and Elinor, family, friends, colleagues, and the community around her. During her years in Flagstaff, Helen ran the TerraBirds' Garden Starts program in Flagstaff, worked at the NAU research greenhouse, lead the Flagstaff chapter of the United States Pony Club while she and her daughters rode horses, grew herbs and vegetables, and cooked delicious and nutritious meals in her home. She shone with strength, grace, and kindness. A natural teacher, she led by example, empowering others to develop their own relationships with plants, people, food, dogs, cats, horses, yoga, cooking, knitting, sewing, and taking long walks in the ponderosas above her home in Flagstaff.

Born in Annapolis, MD, in 1961, Helen earned her B.A. from St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM in 1985 and her Masters in Biological Sciences from Stanford University in 1991. Before serving as Lead Gardener for TerraBirds' sponsored Community Garden Starts program in 2013, she was active a variety of Flagstaff non-profit organizations, including being a Board Member of The Diablo Trust.

As her friend her colleague Regan Emmons said, "Sometimes we have the joy of witnessing full circles, cycles of life that shift, pause and change, but never end. And so it goes with a dear friend of mine, Helen Sisk, whose passing coincided with the first frost, the end of another gardening season here in Flagstaff. Her time on earth has come to an end, but the seeds that she planted, both literal and figurative, will continue to grow and nourish this community. It will not be the same without her, but for those of us who loved her, we have her spirit within us, the memories of her smile, her laugh, her integrity and strength, and the lessons of soil, plants, relationships, and life that she passed down to many of us."

Helen is survived by her daughters Lucinda Myrl Sisk and Elinor Roelker Sisk, her mother Lydia H. Sparrow, siblings Katherine M. Sparrow, Sophie M. Sparrow, Bartholomew H. Sparrow, Elizabeth B. Sparrow, Edward D. W. Sparrow, and Richard A. Sparrow, and husband Thomas M. Sisk. She was predeceased by her father, Edward G. Sparrow and brother Christopher G. Sparrow.

A memorial service celebrating Helen's life will be held at the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Vally, 100 Meadowlark Drive, Sedona, AZ 86336 on Saturday October 17, 2015, starting at 3 pm, with a reception following at the same location.

Instead of sending flowers, the family asks those attending the service to bring a single long-stemmed flower for a community bouquet. Donations can be made in honor of Helen R. Sisk, Flagstaff Foodlink, which is starting a Community Greenhouse in her honor. Flagstaff Foodlink, P.O. Box 23813, Flagstaff, Arizona 86002

A book of memories will be compiled for Helen's daughters Lucinda and Elinor. Please bring photos, stories, and memories of Helen on 8 and 1/2 x 11" sheet/s of paper, or smaller, to fit in an album. If you have memories and can't attend the service, please mail them to Sophie Sparrow, c/o Sisk, 3865 Hidden Hollow Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.