Helen Jean (Geltosky) Rice

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Helen Jean (Geltosky) Rice, 95, of Harrisburg, passed away at 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009, at her residence in Harrisburg.

Helen was born on July 1, 1913, in Harrisburg, to the late Mike and Hattie (Downen) Geltosky. She married Harold Rice in June 1937, and he preceded her in death in August 1993. Helen was a public librarian and a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ridgway. She was also a member of the Daughters of Isabella, Illinois Library Association and a past president of the PTA.

Helen is survived by a daughter, Rita Friend and husband David of Harrisburg; two sons, Mike Rice of Scottsdale, Ariz. and David Rice of Atlanta, Ga.; six grandchildren, Teri Bacher and husband Joe of Harrisburg, Angela Smith and husband Andrew of Chicago, Brad Friend and wife Connie of Crab Orchard, Chris Rice and wife Shannon of Flagstaff, Ariz., Danny Rice of Memphis, Tenn., and Jennifer Rice of California; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Harold Rice Jr.; and a brother, Glen Howard "Fuzzy" Geltosky.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at Sunset Hill Cemetery. Father Mark Stec will officiate. Those wishing to attend should go directly to the cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family through the Obituary Page at the Internet site www.reedfuneralchapel.com.