Calling(s)

Friday, May 12, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Young Family Funeral Home, Kendallville Chapel

Service

Friday, May 12, 5:00 PM Young Family Funeral Home, Kendallville Chapel

Obituary

Helen Frances Kessel, 89, of Kendallville died Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at 3:40 a.m. in Parkview Noble Hospital, Kendallville.

She was born December 22, 1927, in Sampson County, North Carolina, to Dallie and Avaniel "Monk" (Green) Johnson.

On February 28, 1947, in Wilmington, North Carolina, she married Harry Kessel. He preceded her in death in February, 2007.

Mrs. Kessel had lived in this area since 1994, coming from Fort Wayne.

She had worked at Covington Manor Nursing Home in Fort Wayne for ten years and was a homemaker.

She attended the First Christian Church in Kendallville and was a member of the Anthony Wayne First Church of God in Fort Wayne. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society and area quilting clubs.

Helen enjoyed sewing, quilting, crafts, and cake decorating. She dearly loved her dogs.

Surviving are a daughter, Barbara (Larry) Wolf of Avilla; two sons, Edward G. (Margo) Kessel of Christmas, Michigan, and David (Rhonda) Kessel of Kendallville; eight grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Justine Lee of North Carolina and Mary Dixie Ginn of Virginia; and three brothers, Ray Johnson of Raleigh, North Carolina, Donnie Johnson of Goldsboro, North Carolina, and Marshall Johnson of Clinton, North Carolina.

She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Susan Marie Kessel; three sisters, Edna Ruth Moss, Grace Edwards, and Eva Pearl Johnson; and four brothers, Billy Johnson, Milton Lee Johnson, Mossett Johnson, and Robert Johnson.

Funeral services will be Friday, May 12, 2017, at 5 p.m. with calling from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Young Family Funeral Home, Kendallville Chapel, 222 South State Street, Kendallville with the Rev. Dr. Thomas Clothier of First Christian Church in Kendallville officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Fort Wayne on Saturday morning.

Preferred memorials are to the Alzheimer's Association or to First Christian Church.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.youngfamilyfuneralhome.com