Helene M. Goodman, age 81, formerly of O'Fallon, Ill., born October 3, 1927 in East St. Louis, Ill., passed away Saturday, June 13, 2009 at St. Sophia Health and Rehabilitation Center, in Florissant, Mo.

Mrs. Goodman was a parishioner at St. Nicholas Catholic Church and a longtime resident of O'Fallon. Over the years, she provided in-home childcare for over a hundred young children. She was a loving mother and grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth L. Goodman, whom she married May 8, 1946 and who passed away July 5, 1979; her parents Edgar and Genevieve, nee Stroben, Peerman; her stepmother, Beulah Peerman, and stepsister Carol Peerman; grandsons Steven M. Friedman and Michael K. Goodman; and great-granddaughter Peyton M. Goodman.

She is survived by her ten children Kenneth Goodman of Wilsonville, Ill., James (Shirley) Goodman of Fairview Heights, Ill., William (Kathy) Goodman of Lebanon, Ill., John (Deborah) Goodman of Caseyville, Ill., Gerald (Sue) Goodman of Caseyville, Ill., Mark Goodman of Centralia, Ill., Genevieve (Michael) Hommel of Mascoutah, Ill., Mary (Allen) Friedman of Florissant, Mo., Suzann (Terry) Mueller of Mascoutah, Ill., and Jeffrey (companion Deborah Albert) Goodman of Fountain, Ill. Also surviving are her beloved grandchildren Thomas (Elisa) Goodman, Christy Goodman, Andrea Goodman, Donna Goodman, Jennifer (Tim) Evans, William (Melissa) Goodman, Joseph Goodman, Bethany (Kyle) Butters, Charlotte Goodman, Nicholas Goodman, Ruth Goodman, Joshua Goodman, Jamie Goodman, Amanda Hommel, Erica Hommel, Christopher Friedman, Michael (Krissy) Friedman, Melissa (Jeremy) Hoffman, Roy D. Mueller, Richard Skinner, Kathy (Anthony) Brintle; and sister-in-law Norma Rommel, great-grandchildren Louis, Brian, Timothy and Daniel Evans, William H. Goodman, Chloe Friedman, Mikah Brintle, and Hannah Skinner; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to St. Sophia Health & Rehabilitation Center, 936 Charbonier Rd., Florissant, MO 63031, Murray Developmental Center (residence of her son, Mark), 1535 West McCord Street, Centralia, IL 62801 or to the charity of one's choice.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4:00 – 8:00 pm, Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington Street, O'Fallon and from 9:00 – 10:00 am, Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, O'Fallon.

Funeral Service: Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 am, Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, with Msgr. William Hitpas presiding. Burial will follow at O'Fallon City Cemetery, O'Fallon. Following the graveside service, a luncheon will be served at St. Nicholas Catholic Church fellowship hall.