Janice Marie Helander

Janice Marie Helander (nee Hedin) passed away peacefully at Michaelsen Health Center in Batavia, Illinois on Saturday morning, February 8th, eight months to the day of her husband’s passing.

She was 90 years old, born on September 28, 1929 in Chicago to Albert and Edith Hedin (nee Lundquist).  She and Rueben Helander married in Chicago on September 25, 1948.  Jan is survived by her daughter Judy (Rick) Davis, sons Gary (Carol) Helander and Don (Ingrid) Helander, six grandchildren, Jennifer (Brock) Hampton, Jonathan (Betsy) Helander, Jason (Ruby) Helander, Nils (Elizabeth) Helander, Karl Helander and Joel Helander, eight great-grandchildren, and her sister Bonnie (Duane) Babcock.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

When Jan’s children were grown, she worked as a church secretary, and at  Covenant Headquarters for many years. It seemed almost everyone in the Covenant church knew Jan.

Jan’s passion was her music, and she had a beautiful and distinct style of piano playing.  She played the piano and the organ for weddings and funerals, services, musical programs, playing alone or accompanying singers and choirs.  The house was always filled with music, as she practiced with singers, played when friends came over and sang along, or just played for the pure joy of it.  She even produced tapes and CDs, those recordings reaching from coast to coast.  

She continued her musical ministry at the Holmstad retirement community, until she had to give it up when she could no longer hear well enough, and she really felt a huge loss when that day came.  No doubt she has found both a celestial piano and organ and is playing now for choirs of angels, or just for the pure joy of it…and she can hear it again!

Her life touched so many, she will be missed.

A memorial service is being planned to be held at the Holmstad in the near future.  May she rest in peace.