Helen L. Hand, 91, of Oliver Lake, died Wednesday, September 28, 2011, at Parkview LaGrange Hospital.

She was born on December 15, 1919 in Franklin County, Ind., to Mandus and Meryle (Hurst) Chance.

On June 5, 1940 she married Lois “Dee” Hand in Franklin County, Ind. He preceded her in death on December 28, 1987.

Helen was a retired schoolteacher from Chesterton, Ind. She and her husband moved to Oliver Lake in 1985.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of LaGrange and the Retired Teachers Association.

Surviving her are a daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Don Bard of Locust Grove, Georgia, and a son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Jane Hand of Lafayette, Ind., eight grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

Also preceding her in death were her parents, a grandson, Timothy Bard in 1977, sister Dorotha Ellerman and brother Hubert Chance.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at the Frurip-May Funeral Home, 309 West Michigan St.; LaGrange, Ind. with the Rev. Chris Danielson officiating.

Burial is to take place at Greenwood Cemetery, LaGrange.

Visitation will be held from noon (12 p.m.) until time of service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fruripmayfuneralhome.com

Posted 9/29/2011