Helen L. Rice

Helen L. Rice, 96, of Manilla passed away Saturday, March 24, 2012 at Rush Memorial Hospital in Rushville. Born June 26, 1915, in Rush County, she was the daughter of Edward and Roxie (Jones) Gahimer. She married Joseph Jefferson Rice on January 1, 1938, and he preceded her in death on August 20, 1999. Survivors include her daughters, Jane Wells of Fairland and Nancy Muench of Elkhart; sister, Charlene John of Shelbyville; brothers, Norman (wife, Hilda) Gahimer of Franklin and Allen Ray Gahimer of West Lafayette; sister-in-law, Dorothy Gahimer of Shelbyville; granddaughters, Roxanne (husband, Jeff) Lemmon of Elkhart, Jodie Moore of Shelbyville and Cheryl Muench of Indianapolis; great-grandchildren, Ryan Wells of Wakarusa, Sasha Lindwedel and Miranda Lindwedel, both of Elkhart, Kyndra (husband, Joey) Phelps and Brady Moore, both of Shelbyville and Aedan Muench of Indianapolis; twin great-great-granddaughters, Mallory Wells and Madison Wells, both of Wakarusa; and several nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her parents; sister, Maxine Lightner; and brothers, Richard Gahimer, William Robert Gahimer and Byron Gahimer. Mrs.Rice was born and grew up in Rush County, married and moved to Shelby County in 1942 and returned to Orange Township in Rush County in 1969, where she still lived. She graduated from Manilla High School in 1933 and St. Vincent's Hospital School of Nursing in 1937, where she received her registered nursing diploma. Mrs. Rice was a farmer's wife, mother and registered nurse, employed as relief night supervisor and staff nurse at Major Hospital from 1957 until retiring in 1969 and also did private nursing. She was a member of Zion United Church of Christ and a former member of a Homemakers club. She participated in many school functions with her daughters. Helen enjoyed crafts, cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, reading, traveling and fishing. She loved her family and made all of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren Christmas stockings with their names on them. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at the Zion United Church of Christ, 7025 East 100 North in Shelbyville. Interment will be in Zion Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Zion United Church of Christ, 7025 East 100 North, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176 or Alzheimer's Association, Greater Indiana Chapter, 50 East 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240.