Helen Marie Searight 7/28/17 – 6/14/12
Helen Searight died peacefully at home in Chesterton on June 14 with her daughters by her side. Helen was born on July 28, 1917 to loving parents Andrew & Helen Charles in Pittsburgh, PA. She married Norton B. Searight and they moved to South Bend in 1953 for Nort’s position with the Associates Corporation. Helen was preceded in death by Nort, their son Scott C. Searight, grandson Scott P. Searight, & beloved daughter-in-law Diane Wilkins, her Dee. Helen was also preceded in death by her brother, John Charles.
Since her stroke, Helen has resided alternately with her daughters in South Bend & Chesterton. Throughout her rehab & subsequent need for more support, she continued to participate actively in her family life & was loved and supported by many in her two communities. Helen enjoyed attending First United Methodist Churches in Chesterton & South Bend when she was able during those years. Her happiest moments were when she was surrounded by her family, and she had a wonderful 90th birthday gathering in Pittsburgh, still her hometown after so many years.
Helen worked as a secretary prior to her marriage and was a stay at home mom while raising her children. In Helen’s later years, she returned to secretarial work, working as a church secretary at Skycrest United Methodist Church in Clearwater, FL while living there, and upon returning to the South Bend area worked at the American Red Cross. She enjoyed the jobs she held over the years & loved the friendships she made at each, though she would tell anyone that being a mother & grandmother were her true calling in life. If you saw Helen surrounded by young people on any occasion, this was obviously true.
Helen loved her home, garden, reading, and had strong opinions on current events & politics that she’d share with you if you were a good listener. She also loved to go shopping, a little slice of heaven for her being a day in the department stores with her daughters & granddaughters, especially if followed by a root beer float! She loved life and was active with her family almost to the end of her life.
Helen is survived by her daughters Nancy (Michael) Anton of Chesterton, and Susan Searight of South Bend; grandchildren Deborah (David) McDonald of Acworth, GA, Julie Watson & Claude Watson, of Littleton, CO, Marcia Allred of Kennesaw, GA, Lee Ann (Javier) Searight of Chicago, Michael (Julie) Anton, & Julie (Christopher) Braveman, of Chesterton, James (Nicole) Anton of Valparaiso, Megan (Richard) Levendowski of Westville, and Douglas (Tiffany) Anton of Plymouth, MI. Helen is also survived by 18 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren, along with loving nieces, nephews, cousins & friends. Helen is also survived by Bertha ‘Birdie’ Schramm, of Valparaiso, her loving caregiver and our dear friend who helped care for Mom the past few years.
Visitation will be held at the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, South Bend, on Monday, June 18th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial will follow at St. Joe Valley Memorial Park. Rev. Mary Hubbard, of First United Methodist Church of South Bend, will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Helen’s memory to the St. Joseph County Chapter of the American Red Cross, 3220 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN, 46615.
Charitable donations may be made in Helen's memory to the following organization:
St. Joseph County Chapter of the American Red Cross
3220 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN, 46615.
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