Obituary of Helen M. Keck
Age 95 of Joliet, passed away on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home. She was the daughter of Rudolph and Catherine (nee Stukel) and sister to Marian (John) Loscheider, Rudy Mantel, Carol (James) Palmer and Katherine Mantel, all of whom have passed. Helen was also preceded in death by her husband, William C. Keck and by two children, David and Terrie.
She is survived by her children, Jeffery (Janie) Keck, Betty (Dan) Horschler and Randy Keck. She was the proud grandmother of Terri (Anthony) Horwath, Brian (Tricia Tunney) Keck, Matthew (fiancé, Elisabeth Bellinger) Horschler, Adam (Becka) Horschler, Robert (Katie), Joshua and Mallory Keck; great-grandmother to Lindsey (Joe) Castleman, Sydney and Allie Horwath, Ava and Brennan Keck, Charlotte, Maisy and Lucy Horschler, Kagan and Kellan Keck, Norah Unley; great-great-grandmother to Hayley and Brody Castleman. She was also a loving aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.
Helen attended St. John Catholic Grade School and Joliet Central High School, graduating with the Class of 1943. She married William C. Keck on May 28, 1949 in Joliet and they had 68 wonderful years together until Bill’s passing in 2017. Helen worked for Lewis Brothers Shoe Store in downtown Joliet as a bookkeeper and later in life at Sears as a sales clerk, first in downtown Joliet and later Louis Joliet Mall. Following retirement in 1992 they moved from Joliet to Tuscan, AZ and lived there for 13 years and loved every minute of it. They both would often say they had a 13 year vacation before moving back to Joliet in 2005. Helen relied on her strong catholic faith throughout her life, especially when she dealt with the loss of her 14 year old daughter, Terrie in 1966. She was blessed with lifelong friends that she kept in contact with from childhood on.
Her family would like to thank the staff of OLA for her care there the last five months. They also want to thank the women who had helped care for Helen in her home the last four years, especially Deb Spesia as well as the staff of Newsome Home Health, especially Donna Lyle and Angel Doy.
Visitation for Helen will be Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd. (at Essington Rd.), Joliet from 4-8 p.m. Funeral services will be Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 9:15 a.m. from the funeral home to the Church of St. Jude, 2212 McDonough St., Joliet where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Facemasks are required at both the funeral home and church. Interment will follow at St. John Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Memorials in her name to Our Lady of Angels or Lightways Hospice (formerly Joliet Area Community Hospice) would be appreciated. For more information please call (815) 751-5500 or you may visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.
