Janice Helfritz

Janice Lynn (Greiner) Helfritz, age 70, died Saturday, December 30, 2017 at Parkview Care Center in Wells, MN. A funeral service will be held Saturday, January 6, 2018, at 11:00 AM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wells, with Pastor Mary Iverson officiating. Visitation will be Friday, January 5, 2017 from 4-7 PM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wells, MN, and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Albert Lea, MN. Janice was born on November 11, 1947, in Springfield, MN, the daughter of George and Ellen (Wenzel) Greiner. She was united in marriage to William M. Helfritz, her devoted husband of 50 years, on June 18, 1967, at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, MN. Janice was a graduate of Albert Lea High School and Waldorf College. She worked as a medical secretary/transcriptionist for nearly 40 years at Naeve and Watertown Hospitals, Lakeview Clinic, and Freeborn County Public Health. She also set type at the Carver County News. Jan always put other people first and was generous with her time and talents. She loved to sew and make things for others, and even during her 23 year battle with ovarian cancer spent her time knitting and crocheting baby blankets, scarves, and sweaters. She loved to bake and read. She and Bill enjoyed their lake home, and, most of all, spending time with their grandchildren. She was active in Red Hats, quilting, helping at the food shelf, and walking in the Freeborn County Relay for Life. Everyone who knew Jan was touched by her quiet gentleness and humility. She endured cancer with grace and patience, always acting as a living beacon of God's love to those around her. Janice was a woman of deep faith. Her love for God was evident as she used her beautiful voice singing in choirs and as a soloist. She also taught Sunday School for eleven years at Trinity Lutheran Church in Watertown, MN. She was passionate about world missions and requested that memorials be donated to International Health Partners Tanzania. Special thanks to her wonderful caregivers at Mayo Clinic and Parkview Care Center. Jan was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Shannon Reuss, and brother Michael Greiner. She is survived by her husband Bill of Wells, MN; children: William (Tara) Helfritz II of Rosemount, MN, Laura (Rondedrick) Sinville of Otsego, MN, and son-in-law Peter Reuss of Rochester, MN; grandchildren: Benjamin Reuss; Ethan, Hannah, and Isaac Helfritz; Esciliana and Sebastian Sinville; sister Judi (Wes) Nelson, brothers Jon (Jodi) Greiner, Mark (Nancy) Greiner, sister-in-law Marlene Stein-Greiner, and numerous nieces and nephews.