Helene Alberta Schneider Harper (June 26, 1933 to October 6, 2026)

Helene (Lee) had a boundless, kind, warm soul, with an extraordinary gift for making others feel valued and loved. She expressed her love through constant kindness, steady support, and unwavering devotion to all her family and friends. These characteristics allowed her to form genuine, meaningful connections with people wherever she was.

Helene grew up in Cleveland. The daughter of Albert Ernst Schneider and Adeline (Kluth) Schneider. She was the devoted sister of Albert Schneider (Maryanne). In April 1955, Helene married Clarence Dominic Harper "Harp" (deceased in 2011), and after starting their family, moved from Cleveland to Richfield in 1964, where she resided until she became ill in 2019. Despite being a city girl, Lee had a great love and respect for nature, a witty sense of humor, and a generous heart. The move to the Richfield countryside came without hesitation, to share her love of animals, gardening, and the outdoors with her children, Stacey Harper, Greg Harper (Bonnie), and Mary Lynda Bejjani (Pierre). Lee made countless sacrifices to ensure a safe and beautiful childhood for them. Helene worked many part-time jobs over the years in addition to her full-time position in Retail Advertising at The Cleveland Press. When the Press closed in 1991, Lee returned to school and became a certified massage therapist and opened Brecksville Massotherapy, operating it for over ten years. The trip of her lifetime was in April 1986, when she traveled to China to learn various massage therapy techniques and walked on the Great Wall. Her adventures had great meaning to her personal growth and included walking on hot stones and spending the night alone in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Helene's greatest joy of all was being a grandmother to Rachel and Matthew Harper and Julia Bejjani, spending endless hours creating perfect adventures for them at the Harper Homestead. Helene's family and friends will forever treasure the wonderful memories she's instilled in us. The warmth of her soul will eternally live in the hearts of those she loved. Our thanks to the many caregivers at Brentwood Health Care who treated her with kindness and compassion in her final years, and Luminary Hospice, who tenderly cared for her in her last weeks of life.

Please gather at the funeral home Wednesday October 14th at 9:30 am with procession to follow to The Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery.

Family and friends received at The Ripepi Funeral Home 5762 Pearl Rd (Snow Rd) Tuesday October 13th from 4-7pm. Prayers of Incense at 6pm.