Marilyn Delaine Helwig

OTTAWA -- Marilyn Delaine "Dee" Helwig, 78, of Ottawa, died Saturday, Aug. 23, at Ottawa Pavilion. Mass of Christian burial will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Columba Church with the Rev. Ronald Dodd officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Ottawa Funeral Home, with prayers at 4 p.m. She was born Aug. 5, 1930, in Ottawa, to William E. and Catherine (Delaney) Nagle. Dee attended St. Columba Grade School and graduated from Ottawa Township High School in 1947. She also attended Brown's Business College and Illinois Valley Community College. She married John Helwig on Sept. 3, 1949, at St. Columba Church. He died Feb. 14, 1992. Dee was a Realtor for 28 years. During that time she was a broker and co-owner with Bette Pearlman of Century 21 Windsor Realty. She was a member of the Illini Valley Association of Realtors, Illinois Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. Dee was also the recipient of numerous certificates and awards during her career. Above all else, Dee's selfless and untiring dedication and loyalty to family and friends will ensure she lives on in the lives of all she lovingly touched. Survivors include daughter, Mary Jeanne (Rex Rhodes) Helwig; grandchildren, Donald and Daniel Rhodes and Charles Helwig; sister, Betty Duback of Ottawa; daughter-in-law, Donna Helwig of Ottawa; and two nieces and four nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband and a son, John "Jay" Helwig. Pallbearers will be John, Dan, Jim, Dave and Anne Duback and Mary Duback Milliren. Honorary pallbearers will be Kevin Berry, Michael Dougherty, Larry Windsor, Bette and Lee Pearlman, Scott and Terry Girard, Bill Knox Sr. and Mark Sila. You can view Dee's Timeless Tribute Video at: http://ottawafh.yourtribute.com