Helen A. “LaLa” (Lanko) Claeys

June 27, 1920 – Sept. 4, 2006

Helen A. “LaLa” Claeys, 86, of South Bend, passed away at 1:40 a.m. Monday, September 4, 2006, in Our Lady of Peace Hospital. Helen was born on June 27, 1920, in South Bend, to Frank and Rose (Ellis) Lanko. She was employed by Lee’s and retired from the United States Postal Service in 1982. She was a member of Our Lady of Hungary Church and its St. Ann Society and Sacred Heart and Rosary Society.

On August 17, 1963, in South Bend, she married Adolph William “Bill” Claeys, who died on May 22, 1973. Mrs. Claeys was also preceded in death by two sisters, Rosalie Ragis and Mary Chick; three brothers, Michael Lanko Sr., John Lanko and Frank Lanko; two nieces, Kathleen Chick and Barbara Lanko; and by a nephew, John Lanko.

Surviving are a brother, Ernest Lanko of Laguna Niguel, CA; a sister-in-law, Goldie Lanko of South Bend; three nephews, Frank Chick Jr., Frank Lanko Jr. and Michael Lanko Jr.; and seven nieces, Maryann Nemeth, Teresa Guarino, Suzanne Draeger, Nancy Freitag, Carol Harrel, Vivian Lanko and Linda Anderson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 8, 2006, in Our Lady of Hungary Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Family and friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m.Thursday in the Zahoran Funeral Home, 1826 S. Kemble Avenue, where a Rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Hungary School or to Our Lady of Hungary Church

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

08/17/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111959851/helen_a-claeys