Helen M. Kachel

Helen Kachel (nee Gerl), died June 4th, 2016 at the wonderful Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home. Born to Edward and Mary Gerl on Summit Street in Joliet on December 6th, 1921. She was one of eight siblings: Josephine, Marie, Bernice, Dorothy, John, Leone, and "Sonny"; Leone survives.

She loved to share memories of her early life, the Depression, and walking every day to JTHS, graduating with honors in 1939. She worked through WWII in local businesses, renowned for her lightning typing and shorthand skills. She retired as executive secretary at Fleishman's Distillery in Plainfield. She was married for 46 years to her husband, James. She lost him, and the last of the three homes he built for her, in the 1990 Plainfield tornado.

She was a loving and doting mother to her only son, "Jimmy", and his wife Kathy. She treasured her grandchildren Meredith and Collin (who shared Helen's birthday), and Collin's wife Dana. She adored her great-grandchildren, Lucien and Astrid. She'll be missed by her special in-laws Larry and Judy Kachel. She was a favorite aunt to many nieces and nephews. She was a fierce friend, a Bears fan, a crossword enthusiast, and a lover of music and laughter. She will be fondly remembered as elegant, in charge, and generous. Helen loved great food, long telephone calls, and a good joke. She never had a hair out of place. She spent a lifetime doing with less to give her family more, a legacy that will surely be passed down from one generation to the next.

Peace at last, now in a better place.

Friends and family are invited to a luncheon celebration of Helen's life at Al's Steak House, her favorite restaurant, on Friday, June 10th, at 11:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, without which the end of Helen's life would have been much lonelier and without reassuring warmth and compassion.