Helen "Choochie" A. Sever

Helen (Choochie) Sever, 99, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her daughters on February 16, 2026. The daughter of Joseph and Talio Nassin, Helen was born at home on December 17, 1926 in Duluth, Minnesota.

Helen graduated from Morgan Park High School in Duluth in 1944 and attended Denfeld Junior College and Carey Gaspar Business School. She started her working life as a dishwasher in the Gary Lunch owned by her father and also worked at the match factory in Duluth. In Detroit, between 1948-1954, she worked for Crawleys department store in sales, accounting, and advertising. After numerous other jobs, Helen retired in 1989 from her last place of employment after 16 years at St. Louis County Social Services.

Helen married Lawrence Sever (d. 2014) on October 6, 1956. She was an active member and volunteer of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church since 1956. Over the years, she taught religious education, sold roses to raise money for the church, sold chances on Betty Mrak’s quilts every year to raise money for the church picnics, and worked a lot of dinners and funerals with the Women’s Circle.

Helen had a longtime group of good friends, most since childhood, who had many years of good times together. She enjoyed knitting, daily crossword puzzles, reading, and watching her favorite TV shows. She was a wonderful baker, and many people enjoyed her amazing cookies. She was especially known for her delicious spritz cookies and huge oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Preceded in death by parents Joseph and Talio Nassin; husband Lawrence Sever; brothers Andrew Nassin and James Nassin; brothers-in-law Frances Sever, Philip Sever, Irvin Tverberg and George Mikrut; sisters-in-law Patricia Nassin, Virginia Mikrut, Peggy Sever; niece Marguerite Brandenhoff; nephew Mark Tverberg.

Survived by daughters Nancy Sever and Melanie Sever (Greg Ojakangas); grandchildren Kate Royer (Jimmy Bellamy) and Peter Jordan; brother Carl Nassin and numerous relatives in the Chicago Area; Sister-in-law Althea Tverberg; many nieces and nephews and their families in the Duluth and Chicago area; and special creatures Maggie and Carlos.

Mass of Christian burial will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Duluth, MN. Visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. prior to the mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are welcomed to a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Williams Lobermeier Boettcher Funeral Home.