DU BOIS - Helen "Heck" Kurtz, 90, of Du Bois, passed away at 6:25 a.m. Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Washington County Hospital in Nashville. Helen was a homemaker and an avid quilter. She had quilted for many people. Before her retirement, she worked part-time as a cook at St. Charles School and Du Bois Center. She was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church in Du Bois and Catholic Daughters. She was born Feb. 17, 1923, in Du Bois, the daughter of William E. and Sophie L. (Kreger) Heck. She was first married to Henry Hoffman on Nov. 27, 1945. He passed away April 15, 1948. She then married Kenneth Kurtz on Nov. 18, 1950, in Du Bois, and they shared 62 happily married years together. She is survived by her husband of Du Bois; four children, Joyce Bauza and husband, Clarence, of Nashville, Donald Hoffman and wife, Janice, of Ashley, Janet Harris and husband, Steven, of Tamaroa and Deborah Kramm of Whittington; grandchildren, Kim Gill and husband, Larry, of Nashville, Kelly Bauza and wife, Valerie, of Nashville, Jeffrey Harris and wife, Angie, of Tamaroa, Carmen Coughlin and husband, Cass, of Chicago, Bill Harris and wife, Amy, of Tamaroa, Clinton Bauza and wife, Stef, of Nashville, Chad Hoffman and wife, Julie, of Kirkwood, Mo., Tiffany Kujawa and husband, Jonathon, of Tamaroa, Craig Hoffman and friend, J.J., of Paducah, Christopher Bauza and wife, Kasey, of Ashley, Jennifer Whittington and husband, Chris, of Mount Vernon and Traci Kramm and fiancé, Matt, of Mount Vernon; and 20 great-grandchildren, with one more expected in August. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They always put a smile on her face. She is also survived by sisters, Evelyn Kostecki of Du Bois and Martha Rulevish of Tamaroa; one brother, Vernon Heck of Tamaroa; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Ronald Kurtz; one granddaughter, Cassandra Hoffman; one brother, William P. Heck; and three sisters, Frances Biesk, Virdell Deering and Hilda Wojtowicz. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday, April 22, in St. Charles Catholic Church in Du Bois, with Father Oliver Nwachukwu and Father Bernard C. Goedde Jr. officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at St. Charles Catholic Church in Du Bois. Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Charles Catholic Church in Du Bois. Burial will be in St. Charles Cemetery at Du Bois. Memorials may be made to St. Charles Catholic Church or St. Charles Cemetery and will be accepted at the funeral home. Searby Funeral Home in Tamaroa is in charge of arrangements. For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com. Published in The Southern Illinoisan on April 19, 2013