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Born: October 23, 1919
Place of Birth: Freetown, IN
Death: June 26, 2010
Place of Death: Indianapolis, IN
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Helen Irene McNiece
October 23, 1919 -
June 26, 2010
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Life Legacy
Helen Irene (Peach) Forgey McNiece, 90, of Indianapolis and formerly of Freetown, IN died Saturday, June 26, 2010 following a brief illness. She was born October 23, 1919 in Freetown, Indiana, the daughter of Cecil Clair and Lucy (Brock) Forgey. She grew up in Freetown and was a graduate of Freetown High School, Class of 1937. She married Gerald W. McNiece on September 8, 1946. Gerald McNiece was a schoolteacher and administrator who was Principal of Grandview Elementary School at the time of his death in 1969. She had one son, William L. McNiece, M.D. of Indianapolis who serves as Director of Pediatric Anesthesia at Riley Hospital for Children.
Helen worked in Columbus, IN during World War II. She worked at Winona Hospital during the 1960s. In 1969, she joined the staff at McNamara Florists where she worked as a floral designer until retiring in 1995. Following retirement, she volunteered at Thrifty Threads. Although a resident of Indianapolis since 1946, she maintained her membership in the Freetown United Methodist Church.
In 2004, she moved from her apartment in Broad Ripple to her son's home. There she was active and involved in the life of the family. She remained interested in her family, her neighborhood, her community, her Jackson County heritage, and the news events across the country and world. She looked forward to the seasons, especially the spring flowers, the growth of summer gardens, the scrunch of dry leaves in autumn and the first snow flakes of winter.
She was a devoted diarist beginning in 1938 with her last entry three days before her death. She enjoyed family gatherings and held an interest in family genealogy, often exchanging information and newspaper clippings with relatives across the country.
At age ninety, she retained an active interest in the world about her and a desire to help out and do something every day. While frustrated by the limitations imposed by age, she never really accepted them. She would not allow them to stop her, only to slow her down a bit. She read and wrote daily despite the limitations presented by deteriorating vision. She had a quiet, justifiable pride in her work, her accomplishments, and her independence. She lived life by always wanting to give more than she received.
Her husband preceded her in death. She was the last survivor of her sibling group, which included Harrel Forgey, Vernon (Hank) Forgey, Charles Ray Forgey, Vivian Mae Louden and Robert Forgey. Survivors include her son, his wife Nancy, their daughter Theresa, sisters-in-law LaVon (Hank) Forgey, Anna Mae (Ray) Forgey, Dica (Bob) Forgey, Esther (McNiece) Rorig, Ruth (McNiece) Pardieck, and Florence McNiece, brother-in-law Donald McNiece and wife JoAnne, and generations of nieces and nephews.
Visitation in Indianapolis will be 4 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, at Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Center - Broad Ripple, 1305 E. Broad Ripple Ave. Indianapolis, IN.
Visitation in Brownstown, IN will be 4 until 8 p.m. Thursday, July 1, at Winklepleck-Weesner Funeral Home, 320 N. High St. Brownstown, IN
Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 2, at Winklepleck-Weesner Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Brownstown, IN.
Memorial Donations may be made to Freetown United Methodist Church,
P. O. Box 120, 6811 Glendenning Street, Freetown, IN 47235 or Freetown Alumni Scholarship Fund, c/o Phyllis Loper, Treasurer, Freetown Alumni Association
5249 W. County Road 680 N, Freetown, IN 47235
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