Helen Marie Rath

Helen Marie Rath, age 99 of Savanna, Illinois died on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at her home in rural Savanna. Helen has given the gift of body donation. A memorial gathering will be held at a later date and burial of her cremated remains will take place in the St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery, rural Savanna. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Salvation Army Savanna Service Extension, 11193 Dauphin Road, Savanna, Illinois 61074 in Helen’s memory.
Helen was born on November 1, 1913, the daughter of William and Bertha (Schueller) Handel in Savanna. She attended Savanna High School and graduated with the Class of 1931. Helen married Paul F. Rath on August 6, 1958 in Savanna.
Helen served as a secretary for twenty years with several companies in Chicago, Illinois. She also helped her husband, Paul with their farm for over thirty years. Helen admired nature’s beauty and loved the outdoors, especially gardening. Helen also enjoyed reading, cooking and baking. Most of all, Helen treasured spending time with her family.
Helen will be dearly missed by her husband Paul of Savanna; two daughters, Sylvia (James) Smathers of Northridge, California and Paula (Mark) Thoele of Savanna; nine grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren and one sister in-law, Violet Handel of Savanna.
Helen was preceded in death by one daughter, Barbara (Dwight) Nicol; one granddaughter, Penelope L. Nicol and two brothers, George (Vera) Handel and Edward Handel.