Helen Crawford, 89, of Marseilles, died peacefully on Tuesday night, June 27th, 2017 at Ottawa Pavilion.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 1 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa with Rev. Carolyn Lukasick officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Helen was born on November 23, 1927 at 1621 Post Street in Ottawa, to John and Dora (Holt) Fennessey. Helen attended Jefferson School, Ottawa High School in 1945, and LPO Junior College in LaSalle. Eventually she earned her Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Education.In 1947 Helen started as a teacher in the one room Grove School in Rutland Township. She taught first grade at Sheridan Grade School and Harding Elementary until she retired in 1997. She always said teaching children how to read was the most satisfying part of the job. Helen taught generations of kids over the years.
Helen met William S. Crawford at Bianci’s to discuss aviation because they were pilots and owned their own airplanes. She married William S. Crawford on August 19, 1951. There interest in aviation continued for the rest of their lives while other pursuits like flea markets and engine shows developed along the way. They had real zest for their lives. Their marriage lasted 63 years before Bill passed away in 2015. Helen was a devoted mother. She would organize trips with friends during the summer to visit the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Brookfield Zoo with their children. Helen and Bill would fly Melissa to St. Louis and Milwaukee in the Stearman, a double-winged bi-plane. During a summer Birthday party, Helen drove five little girls in her 57’ Thunderbird convertible from the southside of Ottawa to Bill’s family farm for pony rides. Helen loved antiques and shopping. She was a firm believer in ‘things go better with Coca-Cola’ She loved Coke and had anything advertising Coke.
Helen is survived by her daughter Melissa Murphy Nolan, of Ireland, four nieces Sheila, Barbara, Peggy, Noelle, Fred the cat, and all the little ones.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bill, her parents, a brother John Fennesseyone aunt and uncle, Olive and Edward Murray and her beloved cat, Baby.
Helen will be missed by her family, friends, the Waite/Foster family, and cats.
Memorials may be directed to Pet Project.
Pallbearers will be Bruce, Randy, Gene, and Brett Waite, Andrew Elzer, and Joe Elzer.
The family would like to especially thank the staff at OSF St. Elizabeth and Ottawa Pavilion for their kindness and compassion.
Helen has been laid to rest in the Garden of the Ten Commandments.
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