Helen Marie Szczepanski, 88, passed away at her Litchfield home surrounded by her loved ones on Mon., Nov. 4, 2013 at 8:31 a.m. She was born on Fri., Mar. 13, 1925 to Henry Otto and Mae Pearl (Steele) Bierbaum of Litchfield, IL. She graduated from Litchfield High School in 1942. After graduation, she worked for the Illinois State Police headquarters in Springfield, IL. She married Karl Coatney on April 22, 1945, who preceded her in death on Oct. 18, 1972. She married Steve Szczepanski on Aug. 16, 1974 who recently passed away at their winter home in Florida on April 1, 2013. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Litchfield where she served as a Superintendant of the Jr. Dept. for several years. She is survived by: 1 son, Dennis Coatney;2 daughters,Karen (Tom) Franzen, All of Litchfield
Karla (Ed) Bononi of Hudson, FL 6 grandchildren, Michael & Kevin (Lacey) Coatney of Litchfield Michelle Cairns of Hudson, FL Mark Bononi of Tamarac, FL Jennifer Ondrey of Chatham Sarah Franzen of Normal 6 great-grandchildren,
Bethany (Nate) Mathenia of Weeki Wachee, FL Jeffrey Ondrey of Chatham Matthew, Josie & Dalton Coatney of Litchfield
Tegan Bononi of Tamarac, FL 1 brother, Carl Ray (Betty) Bierbaum of Enterprise, AL 1 sister-in-law, Nelda Bierbaum of Staunton

Additional family members,
William Earl (Jan) Sielschott of Litchfield
Sheryl (Sielschott) Denton of Troy
Peggy (Coatney) Aikeman of Tucson, AZ
Kathy (Baker) Myers of Rochester
Kayla (Baker) Morris of Litchfield
Kandy (Bierbaum) Buzick of Staunton
Vickie (Bierbaum) Haddock of Murfreesboro, TN
Mike Bierbaum of Tallahassee, FL
Curt Bierbaum of Springfield, KS
Laurie Westerheide of St. Charles, MO
David Bierbaum of Benld
Nadine Szczepanski of Jacksonville
Bob Szczepanski of Orland Park
Jerry Szczepanski of the Philippines

Several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, & great-nephews

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Ruth Baker; a brother, Leroy Bierbaum.

Funeral services will be held Fri., Nov. 8, 2013 at 11 a.m. in First Baptist Church in Litchfield. Rev. Tim Shrader will officiate. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Litchfield. Visitation will be held Thursday from 4 until 7 p.m. in the church.

The family suggests memorials to First Baptist Church in Litchfield.