Submitted by: Dan Rich
April 21,1920 - Feb. 13, 2000
South Bend Tribune 2/14/2000
Sister M. Helen Jean died February 13, 2000, in Saint Mary's Convent, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Indiana. Sister M. Helen Jean (Mary Elizabeth Hansen) CSC, was born April 21, 1920 to the late George and Marie Hanrahan, in Davenport, Iowa. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross at Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Indiana, January 28, 1938 from Davenport, Iowa and made her final profession in the Congregation August 15, 1946. Sister M. Helen Jean is survived by her sister, Helen Hansen of Davenport, Iowa.
Sister M. Helen Jean began her teaching career as elementary teacher in Chicago and Cairo, Illinois, 1943. She then moved to Michigan City, Anderson. LaPorte and South Bend, Indiana for a number of years. Sister returned to Woodstock, Illinois in 1953. 1957- 1965 Sister worked in Evergreen Park, Illinois, as a special education teacher with emphasis on teaching Braille to the blind students. She returned to Indiana to teach elementary school at St. Vincent's School, Elkhart, and to Our Lady of Holy Cross as a tutor. After 1974 Sister volunteered at a number of different positions, including secretarial, visiting the elderly and pastoral care. In 1996 she retired to Saint Mary's Convent, South Bend, Indiana where she became active in the Apostolate of Prayer until her death.
Wake Service will be held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 15, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 16, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Wednesday, followed by interment at Queen of Peace Cemetery, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Indiana. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry with the Poor Fund, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Indiana, 46556. Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.