Helene Cottrell

Helene Cottrell, 101, of Charleston, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 30, 2025, surrounded by her family.

Born on May 18, 1923, in Kirovograd, Ukraine, she is the daughter of (the late) Anna Korssak (Baranoff) and Romauld Korssak.

Growing up as an only child, Helene was an excellent student. She learned 5 languages over the course of her education. As a senior in high school, she applied and was accepted into medical school in Moscow. Unfortunately, World War II dashed her hopes and dreams of becoming a doctor. As the German forces advanced east and displaced the retreating Red Army, her family was allowed to evacuate into German-occupied territory due to her father being part German. Helene then served in a field hospital near the front lines in Poland, caring for wounded German soldiers. As the Red Army advanced west in their march toward Germany and eventually Berlin, she helped evacuate the wounded as the Soviets began breaching the defensive lines. Helene and her parents continued to migrate westward to Leipzig, Germany. Fearing the Soviet Union would take control of the eastern part of Germany and they would be oppressed under Communist rule once again, they relocated to Ettlingen, Germany. At the conclusion of WWII and the dividing of Germany, Ettlingen was now located in West Germany. Allied forces, including the United States Army, occupied West Germany. Helene eventually met her husband-to-be, George Cottrell, while he was serving in the U.S. Army in Germany.

Helene came to the United States on June 14, 1952, to start a new life with her U.S. Army veteran husband. She had an amazing life being a wife, a mother, raising four children, establishing and maintaining lifelong friendships, and caring for her aging parents. She loved to cook, entertain, attend music concerts and ballet performances, history, travel, learn new things whenever there was an opportunity and had a passion for celebrating every life event. She was a member of the Charleston International Club for many years, which gave her the blessing of making so many friends who also came to the United States from Europe. Helene volunteered at her church, with the Red Cross Blood Mobile, and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra League Designer House. She believed in hard work, caring for family, traditions, enjoying life, and being resilient when life was difficult.

Helene is preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, George Cottrell, Romauld Korssak (Father), Anna Korssak (Mother), Guenther Ruebenacker (Son) and Ursula Cook (Daughter).

Helene is survived by a daughter, Joyce Maffett (Jim), a son, Wayne Cottrell (Susan), seven granddaughters (Crystal, Leigh, Emily, Kimberly, Laura, Marissa and Hannah), four great grandsons, and three great granddaughters.

The family would like to thank the Roper Hospital staff, Crescent Hospice, and Visiting Angels for their tender loving care in the final weeks of Helene’s life.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation - James Island, 347 Folly Road, Charleston, SC 29412.

The Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Calvary Lutheran Church, 1400 Manor Blvd. in Charleston, South Carolina 29407. Burial will be private at Holy Cross Cemetery, 604 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 1695 Raoul Wallenberg, Charleston, S.C. 29407, or Calvary Lutheran Church, 1400 Manor Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29407.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com/.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation - James Island, 347 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, 843-614-8494.