Helen Cox Kersting

Helen passed away peacefully on March 03, 2025 in her home in Sun City West, AZ. Helen was born on June 14, 1934 in Belleville, Illinois, and was the only child of Henry and Frances Cox. She grew up in a musically enriched environment and, after years of participating in various musical activities, graduated in 1956 from the Millikin University School of Music. There, she was a proud member of Delta Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Kappa Phi. Following her graduation, Helen moved to New York City, where she auditioned for and was accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School of Music. During her time at Juilliard, she achieved notable recognition, winning the Chicago Lyric Opera Prize, the Marian Anderson Prize, and the Titcomb Award from the Metropolitan Opera Guild. Her remarkable talents culminated in a debut performance with the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall, under the baton of Leonard Bernstein. As she began to build a career as both a concert and operatic soloist. Helen received an offer for a four-year contract at the Cologne Opera in Germany. There, she established herself as an exceptional interpreter of iconic roles, including the title roles in Rosenkavalier and Carmen, as well as performing in several world-premiere modern operas. Her work at the Cologne Opera extended to performances in major cities across Europe, including Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Vienna. During this period, Helen met and married Dr. Hans-Joachim Kersting, a relationship that lasted 36 years. In the 1970s, Helen's health began to be affected by severe allergies and asthma, likely due to the Northern European climate. As a result, she sought respite in the Seven Lake District and the Phoenix, Arizona area, where the dry climate alleviated her symptoms. Dr. Kersting, while managing his responsibilities with the family manufacturing company, Dia Nielsen Ltd. in Düren, Germany, spent as much time as possible with her during these summers. The company, which specialized in the production of recording systems for technical and medical instruments, had subsidiaries in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, Milan, France, and London. After retiring from her singing career, Helen shifted her focus to supporting the subsidiaries of Dia Nielsen, where she was deeply involved in administrative and operational work, except for the periods when she had to spend time in Arizona. As her performance career ended, Helen also became passionate about mentoring young musicians, assisting with and presenting their concerts. In the late 1990s, following Dr. Kersting’s declining health, the Kersting’s sold Dia Nielsen. They began to spend more time in their Sun City West, Arizona home, where Helen continued her enthusiasm for collecting Native American pottery, Katsinas, jewelry, and basketry. Tragically, Dr. Kersting passed away in January 1999 while they were residing in Arizona. After his death, Helen returned to Europe, sold all their property, and permanently relocated to Arizona. In the years that followed, Helen remained deeply involved with Native American art. She served as a member of the Collections Committee at the Heard Museum in Phoenix and was a Pottery and Sculpture judge at the Heard Indian Market. Her dedication to preserving and promoting Native American art remained unwavering until her passing. In the fall of 2008, she generously donated her extensive collection to the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis, significantly enhancing their Southwest art exhibitions. Helen's legacy is marked by her immense contributions to both the world of opera and the preservation of Native American culture. She passed away with a deep and lasting impact on those who knew her. Services for Helen will be held on April 29, 2025, at 10:30 AM at Camino Del Sol Funeral Chapel, 13738 W Camino Del Sol, Sun City West, AZ 85375.