Helene Bloss

Picha Funeral Home, Locally Owned and Operated

Providing Friendly, Courteous and Dignified Funeral Service

Helene Bloss, age 91 of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin died peacefully Monday, February 4, 2008 at St. Clare Meadows Nursing Home in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, February 8, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Briggsville, Wisconsin with Father James Murphy celebrating. Burial will be at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Picha Funeral Home in Lake Delton, Wisconsin on Thursday, February 7, 2008 from 4 to 8 P.M. and at the church on Friday from 9:00 A.M. until the time of service at 11:00 A.M.

Helene was born November 20, 1916 in New Haven Township, Adams County, Wisconsin the daughter of Frank and Nellie (Hayes) Gaffney. On November 8, 1941 she married Donald Bloss at St. Mary Catholic Church in Briggsville. She furthered her education by attending schools in River Falls, Whitewater, Westfield Normal School and eventually received her bachelor’s degree in teaching at UW–Stevens Point. From there she embarked on a wonderful 46 year teaching career where she had students that reached 3 generations and some of her students still regularly corresponded with her. She taught at the Graham, Wolf Lake and Stafford Rural Schools near Oxford, Wisconsin; Plainville and Badger Valley Rural Schools near Wisconsin Dells; and at Big Spring Rural School and the Briggsville Elementary School, retiring in 1981. The majority of her students were the younger grades and with her loving and caring manner of teaching she also became their friend which was still evident today. Helene enjoyed providing her family and friends with hospitality and she was also well known for her delicious cinnamon rolls and strawberry jam.

Helene is survived by a daughter, Kathleen (James) Beard of rural Oxford; granddaughter, Angie Herold of Wisconsin Dells; grandson, Brian (Ronnah) Beard of LaCrosse, Wisconsin; great grandchildren, Duncan and Ambrose Beard; a brother, Harold (Velma) Gaffney of Oxford; sisters, Dorothy (Frank) Coon of Wisconsin Dells and Katherine Evans of Oxford; and a dear friend, Bea Utter. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and sisters, Anna Zentner and Margaret DeGarmo.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Clare Meadows Nursing Home or St. Mary Catholic Church of Briggsville.