Dorothy “Helen” Sarmiento

Dorothy “Helen” Sarmiento, nee Burford, 93, of Belleville, IL, born November 24, 1929, in St. Louis, MO, died August 25, 2023, at Dammert Geriatric Center, Belleville, IL.

Helen exemplified the true meaning of a caregiver.  She was a registered nurse for over 46 years. She had worked at Christian Welfare for 20 years in the premature center then as a school nurse at Grant Middle School for 26 years, and finally retired from Murray Development Center after 12 years of service. She had cared for her husband, Alonso, for 15 years after he suffered a stroke. She gave her heart and soul to her family. She was always there for her family and friends no matter what.

She loved to read and participated in many book clubs over the years. Helen enjoyed gardening and tending to her Irises and Zinnias. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alonso Sarmiento, whom she married on February 17, 1951, and who died on December 6, 2009; a daughter, Cynthia Rebecca Sarmiento; a son, Miguel Sarmiento; two grandsons, Gregory Sarmiento and Jordan Davis; her parents, Richard and Etta, nee Thompson, Burford; two brothers, Ralph and Richard Burford; two sisters, Josephine Burford, Frankie Randolf; and a son-in-law, Tim Traylor.

Surviving are five children, Carmen (Don) Rigney of Belleville, IL, Cecilia (Dave) Miller of Waterloo, IL, Maria Traylor of Sebastopol, CA, Carlos Sarmiento of Golden, CO, Sara Davis of Belleville, IL; 15 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank everyone at Dammert Geriatric Center for taking such good care of our mom.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dammert Geriatric Center at Our Lady of the Snows or the Glaucoma Foundation. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.

Visitation:  Friends may visit from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, September 8, 2023, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.

Funeral:  A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, September 8, 2023, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. William McGhee officiating.

Private burial will be at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.