Helen Jane Vahala

Helen Jane Vahala, 85 of Elkhart, passed away Sunday, May 11, 2014 at her home. She was born March 21, 1929 in Cambridge, Ohio to John and Elizabeth (Almasie) Basalla. She married Milan P. Vahala on June 27, 1953 in Pleasant City, OH. He died on Jan. 7, 2008. Surviving are 3 sons, David (Mary Jo) Vahala and Daniel (Tamra) Vahala both of Goshen and Robert Vahala of Elkhart; 2 daughters, Julie (Barney) Hostetler of New Paris and Jane (Michael) Wise of Elkhart; 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, Samuel Basalla and William (Dorothy) Basalla both of Cleveland, OH and 2 sisters, Irene Sekel of Buffalo, OH and Alice (Don) Stropki of Kipling, OH. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Paula Jane Vahala and 4 sisters, Elizabeth Basalla, Ann Yousko, Margaret Gibson and Mary Goodrich and 5 brothers, Andy, John, George, Joseph and Michael Basalla.

Helen Jane was a homemaker and a member of St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church in Elkhart. She loved her children and grandchildren and enjoyed going to the casinos.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 15th from 5-8 pm at the Black-Epperson Funeral Home in Byesville, OH where a Vigil service will be at 8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Friday, May 16th at St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Pleasant City, OH. Rev. Edward Gretchko will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery.

Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, Elkhart is assisting with local arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.stemmlawsonpeterson.