Helen M. (Loida) Gidley

February 19, 1930 – October 12, 2021

A remarkable lady left us on October 12, 2021, at the age of 91. Helen (Loida) Gidley was a terrific mom and grandma, with a quick wit and a funny sort of giggle laugh. Helen was a fixture on Fulton’s Court Street, where she ran Gidley’s Shoe Store for 18 years with her husband Wesley Gidley. She then continued to run it an additional 20 years after Wes’ passing in October of 1989. Helen had terrific friends and spent many evenings with them around the round table at the Fulton Country Club.

Helen Marie Loida was born at 3 a.m. on February 19, 1930, in her family home in Ste. Genevieve. Helen was the second of three children born to Andrew Loida and Christine (Vogt) Loida – the youngest being Mildred (Loida) Basler and the oldest being Ralph “Nick” Loida. When asked about the time of her birth, Helen said, “Maybe that’s why I like parties so much!”. Her favorite subject in school was public speaking, which should come to no surprise to anyone who visited the shoe store.

Helen’s daughter Terri was born in 1958, and married Mike Heller in 1988. Mike and Terri have three children: Alex, Abbey, and Andy – whom Helen spoiled generously.

Helen loved a good drink, good friends, her grandkids, a hot slot machine, and of course, shoes.