Janice Ann "Jan" Helfen

Janice Ann Suchy Helfen, 75, passed away on December 19, 2022, at home in Fairmount, Indiana.

She was born on March 25, 1947, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Michael and Stella (Wilamosky) Suchy. She attended St. Casimir Elementary School, Cleveland; Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Cleveland (1961–64); and Valley Forge High School, Parma Heights, Ohio (1964–65). She earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1971 from the University of Dayton, Ohio, and a master’s degree in Education in 1990 from Indiana University Kokomo.

She worked for the U.S. Government, Washington, D.C.; Standard Oil Company, Cleveland, Ohio; J.C. Penney, Chicago, Illinois; Frills & Freckles Preschool, Fairmount, Indiana; Park Elementary School, Fairmount, Indiana (1989–2011); and Riverview Elementary School, Marion, Indiana, until 2018. During her teaching career and then retirement, Janice was an active member of the Grant County Reading Association; Indiana Retired Teachers Association (IRTA); National Education Association (NEA), Madison County; Francis Slocum Retired Teachers Association; and the Victory Club, Madison County, Indiana. She had also been a member of St. Paul Catholic Parish, Marion, Indiana, and Holy Family Catholic Church, Gas City, Indiana.

Janice enjoyed traveling with family and friends, growing tea roses, baking and cooking, reading a variety of media publications, working crossword puzzles, and volunteering at Helping Hands in Fairmount, but most of all, teaching children.

Janice is survived by her son Robert (Heather Joy) Helfen and granddaughter, Ava Grace of Chicago, Illinois; sisters Margaret (Dan) Tobin of Parma, Ohio and Gloria Suchy of Willoughby, Ohio; brother-in-law Richard J. Knecht of Sylvania, Ohio; goddaughters Heather Ann and Hannah Lout of Cedar Park, Texas, and Cherie McIntosh of Renton, Washington; important family members James and Lucas Lout of Cedar Park, Texas; best friend Philip “Spark” Mitchener of Fairmount, Indiana; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Stella Suchy, and sister, Antoinette M. Knecht.

Services for Janice will be at Armes-Hunt Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 415 S. Main Street, Fairmount, Indiana on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 1 PM with Father Ted Rothrock officiating. Visitation will be from 11 AM – 1 PM at the funeral home. Private burial will be at Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Fairmount Public Library, 217 S. Main Street, Fairmount, Indiana 46928.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com