Prayers, Candles, and Spiritual Memorial Mass Enrollment are requested for the soul of Helen Mary Deckler. Helen Mary is in the hand of God, ending her torment. Helen Rychterska parents are Frank and Mary (Opalka) Rychterski, in Chicago. They lived in the basement at 1743 West 17th St, where she had to leave the building, go under the street and sidewalk, to use the bathroom. That made the big cookie jar under the bed and the pot belly stove, everlasting memories. Helen had three brothers. John was older and had to bend down to not hit his head on the doorway. After Helen was born, her mother had Paul. Paul was stillborn and changed her mother's focus. The youngest son was Thomas. They moved across the street and dropped the three letters of the last name when they started Frobel Grammer School. The last three letters were the cause of a lot of fights that her big brother always got her out of. Helen's grandpa and sister Veronica lived next to the school, and would tell Mary and Frank about the fights. Veronica would also give the family money to get by. Helen and her brother John dropped out of Harrison High School. She liked painting in school, museums, and roller skating. Helen had two jobs in Chicago, elevator operator, then telephone operator. Then she moved to Freeport, IL. She met and married Jack Gordon Deckler at St. Joseph Church on November 27, 1948, by Father Berg. Helen was a supervisor at Crum & Forster from 1947 to 1957. Helen had a stillborn daughter named Darleen. She is buried in the City Cemetery in front of Robert Kneply's graveside. Darleen was dead days before she was born and made Helen sick with Kidney Toxemia. Helen also had a stillborn grandson, Mark Gerald Deckler, Jr, who is buried in the City Cemetery in front of Elta Deckler's grave. Helen, Jack, and Jack's sister Arleen built two houses. Helen left her whole body in one of the houses, with her son beside her. When Helen was a member of St. Joseph, she was a leader in the Marian Society, and the coordinator for the Pilgram Virgin. Helen loved music. She wrote 2 songs and gets royalties from one of them. She led the songs at Christmas time. Helen continued painting, She was a member of the Brownsvile Texas Art League and studied portraits taught by Migul. Helen would spend a year painting one religious picture. Helen would spend all the daylight at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, just as her mother did, on her knees praying. She would do work when needed and pray with the troubled people. Helen was the instigator for perpetual adoration. She needed help understanding Vatican 2 direction. Helen practiced pre vatican 2 traditions until she left her body, July 20, 2023. Helen liked to grow flowers and vegetables. Helen and her dad loved to fish. Helen would put all of the firewood on the fire right away went she went camping.

Helen is survived by her son Mark Gerard Moses Deckler.

Funeral mass will be held on Wednesday July 26, 2023 at 10:30 AM, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Freeport. Friends may call at the church from 9 AM until time of service.