Helen Clarissa Elchert

Helen Clarissa Elchert, age 98, of O’Fallon, Ill. passed away on January 11, 2026.

Helen was born on November 19, 1927 in Tiffin, Ohio, the daughter of the late Ralph D. and Dorothy (Jones) Foutz. She was preceded in death by her husband, James A. Elchert; her son-in-law, Fredrick G. Taylor; and two sisters, Mary ‘Molly’ Franklin, and Jeanne Hofmann. She is survived by two sons, Charles Druesedow and his wife, Fran, of Fairview Park, Ohio, and Lee Elchert and his wife, Leslie, of South Daytona, Fla.; a daughter, Paula Taylor, of O’Fallon; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

As a young woman, Helen worked as a telephone operator in Chicago, Ill. Later, she was employed as an elementary teacher’s assistant in Logan, Ohio, and she held several retail and clerical positions over the years. She brought an innate creativity and curiosity to everything she did. Her hobbies included reading, quilting, cross stitch, and tending her thriving collection of house plants.

After her husband’s death in 1997, Helen sold their home in Piketon, Ohio and bought a house in O’Fallon. At age 93, she moved to The Colonnade Assisted Living Center, where she made many dear friends and received kind, loving care. This past October she moved to her daughter’s home to be cherished by her family.

Helen was our heart and soul, and a devoted, caring friend. Always ready for a road trip or any other adventure, she was a great listener, and she loved a good joke, even the off-color ones. She will be deeply missed by her family and remembered with love and gratitude. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, or to the charity of the donor’s choosing.

Memorial visitation will be held 2-5 pm, Sunday, February 22, 2026 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill.