Helen Hodel

July 21, 1930 - March 12, 2017

Helen Ilene (Guggenbickler) Hodel, a Frances, WA resident, died Sunday, March 12, 2017 at Providence St. Peter’s Hospital in Olympia; she was 86. Helen was born July 21, 1930 in Frances, WA to Peter Louis and Emma Emily (Smith) Guggenbickler. She was raised in Frances and attended Lebam High School. She worked many jobs including farm work, shake packer at the Lebam Mill, an egg packer, marked fish, worked at the cannery in South Bend and a homemaker. Helen married Joe Hodel, January 21, 1950 at Holy Family Catholic Church. He preceded her in death in January of 1988. She was a member of the Eagles Club, Lewis-Pacific Swiss Society, Grange Hall and the Lewis County Bowling League. Helen enjoyed fishing, crocheting, knitting, gardening, flowers, cats, and bowling with her sister Josephine and gambling with her son John and her sisters and niece. Memorial donations in Helen’s memory may be made to the Lewis-Pacific Swiss Society. She is survived by four sons, Leland Guggenbickler of Lebam, John (Karen) Hodel of Frances, Frank (Sue) Hodel of Lebam, and Gary Hodel of Frances; her daughter Linda (Jim) Wilson of Frances; her sisters Josephine Vetter of Onalaska and Mary Hodel of Raymond. Helen was also survived by 13 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents Peter and Emma Guggenbickler, brothers Peter (Sonny) Guggenbickler, Alfred Guggenbickler and Leon Guggenbickler; her sisters Helen Pappas, Elma Baggenstos, Lenore Moore, Emma Snaza and infant sister Elenore Guggenbickler. Memorial donations in Helen’s memory may be made to the Lewis-Pacific Swiss Society. Rosary Services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 17, 2017 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Frances. Funeral Mass will take place at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 18, 2017 at Holy Family Catholic Church, burial will immediately follow at Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo. All are welcomed to attend a Potluck Gathering at the Swiss Hall in Frances after the service. Arrangements are in care of Stoller’s Mortuary in Raymond.