Helen Theresa (Stawny) Schall

Helen Theresa (Stawny) Schall, 74, of Adrian, Michigan died on Wednesday May 3, 2023 after a long period of illness.      

Born August 25, 1948 in Osnabruck, Germany in a Polish refugee camp, at age four Helen immigrated with her parents through Ellis Island, settling eventually in Toledo, OH. She graduated from Whitney High School and worked as a secretary at the Toledo Police Department, Owens Illinois, and Commercial Aluminum before becoming a full time homemaker. While raising her children she moved to New Jersey and to the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, IL, and finally settled in Adrian, MI.      

Helen possessed a feisty and colorful personality before the illnesses struck her. She read newspapers voraciously and frequented the Adrian District and Lenawee County Libraries. Helen was engaged in her community and the world. She easily struck up conversations with anyone she met, wrote letters to the editor, and made calls to members of Congress. She made many friends along the way. For years, she delivered newspapers for the Adrian Daily Telegram. She enjoyed meals with friends at the Daily Bread and Salvation Army in Adrian. She cared for nature, especially the ducks in local parks. She had a fierce love of family, and was surrounded by her closest family at her passing.    

Helen will be deeply missed and is survived by her daughters Heather (Steven) Sokasits of Sylvania, OH, Nicole (Christopher) Plotner of Adrian, MI, and son Benjamin (Jessica) Schall of Cement City, MI; grandchildren Lea, Bradley, Oliver and Dorian; ex-husband Wayne Schall, sisters Cecilia (Ken) Knoke and Rosemary (Jim) Flury and many nieces, nephews and cousins, in the US as well as Poland. She was preceded in death by mother Genowefa “Genevieve” (Liszaj) Stawny Nichols, father Stanisław “Stanley” Stawny, sisters Barbara Utenker and Henrietta  Hummer, and brother Dennis David Nichols.    

Private Burial at Toledo Memorial Park. Celebration of Life will be held June 3 in Adrian. Call 517-260-7170 to learn more or offer condolences. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Daily Bread (https://www.dailybreadlenawee.org/) 

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