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Welcome to the memorial page for
Helen M. (Shively) Holton
October 8, 1919 ~ July 4, 2016 (age 96) 96 Years OldShare using:
Helen Holton passed away peacefully in her sleep at Healthwin with her son-in-law Hank at her side. She was born in Logansport, Indiana to William and Nellie Shively on October 8, 1919. She had two brothers, Paul and Robert, who preceded her in death. She was married to Michael Sacchini in 1939, and they had three children, Mikey Joe, Patty and Carolyn “Snookie”. She married Sam Alexander in 1951, and they had two children, Joey and Jeannine.
Helen was known as “Granny”, “Grams” and “Chick”, she loved her five children and was extremely proud of each of them. Two of her daughters, Patty and Carolyn, preceded her in death. She was a fighter and was able to whip colon and lung cancer and also survived a rare blood disease for several years.
She spent most of her life in South Bend, but she moved to Indian Lake in Michigan, where she worked as a bartender, cook and waitress at several local restaurants and taverns in the Dowagiac and Sister Lakes area.
Helen is survived by two sons and one daughter, Mike Sacchini and wife (Barbara), Joey Alexander, Jeannine Groot and husband (Hank); son-in-law, Larry Ehlert; grandchildren, Dr. Tara Svatos and husband (Tony), Danny Joe Sacchini and wife (Dea), Erik Hurwick, Joey and Dr. Ali Groot, Jessica Hollar and husband (Cory), and Sammy and Joely Alexander. She is also survived by great grandchildren, Helen and Michael Svatos, Christian and Alexis Sacchini and Jaiden and Josalyn Hollar; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Helen was a strong, loving, caring and funny lady. She loved family, friends, music, dancing and good scotch (Dewar’s). If you ever met her, you would immediately fall in love with her. She would tell you, “You are special or top shelf”, or she would say “You are my buddy”. If she had money, she would give it away to help people.
The last eight years of her life were spent at Healthwin, where she received loving care from everyone. A special thank you to the employees at Healthwin on West 2 who took loving and compassionate care of her until the moment she passed.
Her family is sad that they won’t be able to hold her hand or kiss her and tell her how much they love her anymore. However, they are happy that she is a peace and is with her family and friends in Heaven.
A CELEBRATION OF HER LIFE WILL BE HELD at the Palmer Funeral Home - Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Road, South Bend, where friends may visit from 11 am - 11:30 am and services from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm on Friday, July 29, 2016.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Healthwin Specialized Care, 20531 Darden Road, South Bend, IN 46637. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.
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