Helen E. Fecske, 101, of Washington, passed away Friday, December 22, 2023, at the Villas of Hollybrook in Washington.

She was born in Fairbury, IL on July 19, 1922, to the late William and Georgia Sterling Craig.  She married Leslie Fecske in Chicago on May 18, 1945.  He preceded her in death on August 2, 2005.  She was also preceded in death by one sister, and three brothers.

Surviving are five daughters, Ilona Fecske, Celesia (Stanley) Jones, Kathleen (Clint) Britnell, Tammy Fecske, Patty (fiancé, Bill Bishop) Ring; ten grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Helen left ISNU in 1941where she was studying to become a teacher and became a civilian clerical worker at Chanute Field.  It was there that she heard Pres. Roosevelt's speech on Dec. 7, 1941, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  She transferred to Lincoln Army Airfield in Lincoln, Neb. in 1942.  Here she was a CAF-2 working in the office of the quartermaster corps. Helen then transferred to Kansas City, MO Army Effects Bureau, where she supervised personnel responsible for production of records for deceased soldiers' effects. She also volunteered at the USO.  It was in Kansas City that she met her future husband, Leslie Fecske.  They married in 1945 in Chicago where Leslie was discharged after serving in the Aleutian Islands. They soon settled in Washington, IL.  Helen was a Welcome Wagon Hostess, welcoming newcomers to Washington with a smile, conversation, and a basket of coupons and gifts from local merchants.  She found time to help with Bible school, Girl Scouts, and was the "fun" mom of the neighborhood.  Students at Washinton Comm. High School enjoyed her friendly chatter when she became a lunch lady.  She retired from that position in 2001 to care for her husband.  In 2005 she began working for Aramark in the Lincoln Grade School cafeteria, retiring at the age of 92.

She was a member of The Bridge United Methodist Church in Washington.  She loved garage sales, meeting many people she kept in touch with for years.  Helen was an avid letter writer, not only to friends and family, but also to new neighbors and new members of her church.  She could go through a roll of 100 stamps in three to four months.  But her enduring passion was making handloomed rugs with her husband.  She gathered material and cut it into long strips, then sewing them together and rolling into "rag balls." Leslie manned the Union loom, weaving Helen's carefully prepared and color coordinated strips into beautiful rugs.  She also loved encouraging others to learn the craft.

Helen was a genuine character who was always curious and interested in meeting new friends.  She loved toys and had a fine collection of trolls.  She loved her family immensely and enjoyed her grandchildren. When people spoke of her, they smiled.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12:00 pm Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington.

In light of the forecasted weather, family will receive friends **one hour prior** to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, Helen had a request of those who knew her: "Find something you've been putting off until tomorrow and do it today." Family likes to think that means making a new friend, writing a letter, playing with a child, or perhaps talking to your neighbor. Anything that helps you connect to people.  Helen certainly was a master at making connections.