Submitted by: John C. Monk

Lucille M. Helak

Dec. 13, 1925 - Feb. 11, 2010
SOUTH BEND - Lucille M. (Battista) Helak, 84, formerly of College Street in South Bend, passed away 7:32 p.m. Thursday, February 11, 2010, in Miller's Merry Manor, Plymouth, IN. Lucille was born on December 13, 1925, in Elkhart, to the late Saverio "Sam" and Margaret "Maggie" (Paduano) Battista. She had been a life-long area resident. After raising her chil-dren, Lucille went to work for the South Bend School Corporation where she worked as a teacher's aide for many years. On May 21, 1949, in St. Vincent Catholic Church, Elkhart, IN, as Lucille M. Battista, she married Leon W. Helak, who preceded her in death on June 15, 2008. Also preceding her in death were her daugh-ter, Katherine Holden; one grandson, Scott Jank; one sister, Antoinette Pied-mont; and two brothers, Dominic and Sam Battista. Survivors include three daughters, Judith (Peter) Jank of Granger, Lauren (David) Toepp of Farmington Hills, MI, and Maryanne Helak of Indi-anapolis; four sons, David (Kathy) Helak of Wyo-ming, MI, Thomas (Jo-Anna) Helak of Tampa, FL, John (Amy) Helak of Lakeville and Michael (Laura) Helak of Lilburn, GA; 12 grandchildren, Martin (Jennifer) Jank, Paul Segallos, Matthew Helak, Maggie (Zack) Whitley, Karen Toepp, Adam Toepp, Steven He-lak, Rachel Toepp, Sam-uel Helak, Nicholas Helak, Christopher Helak and Hannah Helak; two great-grandchildren, Collin and Jack Helak; and two sis-ters, Rose and Mary Batti-sta, both of Elkhart. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, February 15, 2010, in Holy Cross Church. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, where a parish Rosary will be prayed at 4:30 p.m. Lucille was a 1943 graduate of Elkhart High School. Lucille and her husband Leon lived on College Street in South Bend for over 50 years where they raised their eight children. She was an active member of Holy Cross Parish for over 50 years. Lucille enjoyed gardening, needlework, and spending time with her children and grand-children. She had a life-long interest in learning different things. The family would like to thank the staff at Miller's Merry Manor in Plymouth, IN, for their kind and com-passionate care of their mother. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alz-heimer's Association or the charity of the donor's choice. To send online condo-lences, please visit kaniewskicares.com.

Published in South Bend Tribune from February 13 to February 14, 2010