Helga And Gilles Delisle

Helga (Harries) DeLisle and Gilles DeLisle Helga (Harries) DeLisle, 72, and Gilles DeLisle, 69, died in their home on Mesilla Hills Drive on Wednesday, April 14th 2010, along with their life-long friend Peter Weith, 68. Helga was born in Northern Germany on November 21st 1937 in the town of Elmshorn as the third of four children. She lost her father, Klaus Harries, when she was four and her mother Maria had to take care of the family. Growing up in difficult times during and after the war, Helga spent many happy days at her grandfather's farm and developed a deep love for nature and the outdoors. Her interest in travelling and foreign countries resulted in the decision to study linguistics in the United States. Gilles was born on March 30th 1941 in Rural Saskatchewan, Canada, fourth of five siblings. Raised on the farm, his practical skills, creativity an entrepreneurial spirit shone through, having been raised by his incredibly resourceful parents, Eugene Jr. and Germaine. His adventurous nature could not, however, be held back; he set off as a young man for greener and warmer pastures. Helga and Gilles met at the university in La Jolla in California, inseparable thereafter. They were two creative and open-minded people who complemented each other in many ways. The German girl and the proud French-Canadian had found their soulmates. After moving to Minneapolis where they obtained their PhDs in linguistics, their first teaching positions were with a small college in rural Quebec. They eventually settled down in Las Cruces, where Helga taught in the language department of NMSU until her retirement in 1996 as department head. Gilles pursued a multitude of interests and business ventures - from real estate development to engine design - always thinking outside the box, combined with a keen sense of opportunity. Both loved to explore and their travel took them to all five continents. Helga was a gifted painter and filled many walls with her artwork. Gilles expressed his creative spirit with several inventions, photography, and writing. Most of all, they enjoyed having good times and stimulating discussions with friends. Helga and Gilles considered every day a gift and always seizing the moment. Gilles' heart transplant in 1996 intensified their passion for life. Their openess and inspiring nature won them friends wherever they went. They will be missed deeply by their families in Germany and Canada, as well as a much larger family of friends in Las Cruces and all over the world. There will be a "Celebration of Life" to remember Helga and Gilles on Sunday, May 2nd, 12.30pm at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM. Please RSVP at delisle.life.celebration@gmail.com, or go to www.getzfuneralhome.com for the online condolence register. Share your photos: http://gallery.me.com/kathynjay. Donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders at www.doctorswithoutborders.org or by calling (888) 392-0392. PDF Printable Version