Helene A. Thiel

Helene A. Thiel age 98, of Pigeon formerly of Elkton died Monday evening, May 13, at her home under hospice care.

She was born May 24, 1914, at the home of her parents, the late Joseph and Antonia (Szafranski) Burzyck in Oliver Twp. During Helen’s Elkton High School years, she played center on the girls basketball team.

On January 7, 1931, she was united in marriage to Charles R. Thiel in Sebewaing. In 1934, they purchased a farm across the road from where she grew up. She lived on that farm for 63 years, moving to Country Bay Village in Pigeon and then to Country Gardens. Her husband preceded in death her on December 22, 1982.
Helene was a lifelong member of St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, Altar Society and former member of the Daughters of Isabella. She enjoyed playing cards, doing cross stitch, tying quilts, traveling and especially dancing.

Surviving are six children, Meta O’Connor of Pigeon, Robert (Selma) Thiel of Pigeon, Gerald Thiel of Hillman,Janet McIntyre of Las Cruces, NM, Judy (Don) Brunn of Rochester and Linda (Bill) Heidebriecht of Romeo; 29 grandchildren; 48 great grandchildren and 15 great great grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her daughter, Irene Voss; a granddaughter, Janice Voss; three sons-in-law, Owen McIntyre, Bill O’Connor, Bill Voss; six sisters, Marie Horton, Frances Burzyck, Susan Short, Agnes Nutto, Stella Armstrong and Irene Hughes and six brothers, Tony, Mike, Ray, Leo, Lawrence and Andrew Burzyck.

A funeral mass will be celebrated 11:00 AM Friday, May 17, at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church. Rev. Fr. John Weis, pastor will officiate with burial in the church cemetery.

A rosary service will be conducted 8:30 PM Thursday evening, at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton where friends may call from 2 to 9 PM Thursday.
Memorials may be given to St. Francis Cemetery Fund or St Jude’s Children’s Hospital