Survivors include Elmer, her husband of 71 years; her daughters Judy (Hugo) Bour of Tiffin, Jane (James) Hartsig of Plymouth Mich., Anne (Thomas) Hummer of Monroe Mich, Mary Bell of Grove City Ohio, Alice (Thaddeus) Kosnikowski of Ludington Mich., Kay (Walter) Zilka of Navarre Fla., Ruth Rahla of Toledo Ohio, a son, John Warnement of Tiffin, 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; a brother Joseph Murray of Toledo Ohio a sister, Ruth Juneman of Texas, and a step-sister, Carol Schmenk of Lima Ohio.
She is preceded in death by her parents; and a brother Louis Murray.
Helen was a 1930 graduate of St. Johns High School, in Delphos Ohio. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church for the last 69 years and a member of its Rosary Altar Society. She volunteered for many years at the Seneca County Board of Elections and was an active volunteer for many years with the Mercy Hospital Sewing Guild.
Helen was a proficient seamstress and homemaker and made most of the clothes for her seven daughters while they were growing up.
Helen excelled at crocheting and made many blankets and afghans for the annual St. Joseph’s festival. She enjoyed traveling, fishing, and fondly remembering her trips with Elmer to Florida, to her daughter Jane’s home in South Carolina and to her daughter Anne’s lakefront cottage in Michigan.
The family would like to offer their sincerest gratitude to Dr. John Vela, his nurses and staff who compassionately cared for Helen these past 25 years, Ellie Amann for delivering Communion to her and Elmer every Sunday during their homebound years and a special thank you to all the caregivers who provided tender and loving care over the past few years.
Visitation with family and friends will be 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Monday, November 21, at the Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory, 214 S. Monroe St., Tiffin., (419) 447-3113. A wake service will be at 2:45 pm Monday at the funeral home.
Prayers will be said at 10 am at the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 am Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church officated by Rev. Joseph Szybka. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Tiffin. The Rosary will be recited in church 20 minutes prior to Mass.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her name to St. Joseph Church in Tiffin or to the charity of the donor’s choice in care of Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory.