Helen Warner Heckman
August 23, 1963 ~ February 4, 2021
Helen Warner Heckman, 57, Greenwood, passed away suddenly February 4, 2021, after suffering a sudden spontaneous brain hemorrhage on Wednesday. Helen was born August 23, 1963, in Indianapolis to the late Rosa (Rodriguez) Warner and Jack Warner, Sr., who survives.
Helen graduated from Scecina Memorial High School. A lifelong learner, she earned her BSBA and MBA degrees from Indiana University. Helen worked as a Senior Systems Analyst in the insurance industry and later as a realtor for F.C. Tucker. She earned a Master’s degree in education and her Administrator’s License from the University of Indianapolis.
Her educational career began as a teacher at St. Barnabas School, where she taught for nine years. For the past seven years, Helen has served as the principal at St. Bartholomew Catholic School in Columbus. She was a natural educator – earning the respect of students, fellow teachers, administrators, staff, and parents. Helen had the gift of seeing potential in all students, and this allowed her students to prosper and grow. She was awarded the NCEA 2020 Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Award from the National Catholic Educational Association for dedication, support and commitment to excellence in Catholic education.
Helen was a member of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church. She enjoyed cheering on the Colts, Pacers, and Indiana Hoosiers. She also loved traveling – especially with her family. She was a gracious and elegant hostess for many family gatherings. Above all, Helen was fiercely loyal to her family. She will be fondly remembered for her generosity, kindness, selflessness, and wonderful sense of humor. The world is a better place because of Helen Warner Heckman.
In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by a niece, Sarah Warner.
Survivors include her husband of 33 years, Chuck Heckman; sons, Patrick, David, and Ryan; father, Jack Warner, Sr.; brother, Jack (Theresa) Warner, Jr.; sister, Marilyn (Rick) Vining.
Visitation will be Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 3 to 8 p.m., at the O’Riley Funeral Home, 6107 S. East Street. Those attending are reminded to wear masks and practice physical distancing. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m., Thursday, February 11, 2021, in St. Barnabas Catholic Church. The Mass will be live streamed by visiting www.vimeo.com/stbindy. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to St. Bartholomew Catholic School, 1306 27th St., Columbus, IN 47201. Visit www.ORileyFuneralHome.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.
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There are no words to express the loss and pain of our dear sister-in-law. We will always love and miss you. Someday sweet Helen we will play cards again. Kathy and Rick Minor
I believe I’ve only met Helen once, on a visit back to Indiana. I could tell she was a special person, having become part of the Heckman family, my first cousins. I am stunned and saddened by this loss of such a good person. May her goodness expand and grow in her next journey.
Heartfelt thoughts and prayers to all of your family… May the strength and comfort of friends family surround you and lift you up at this time John & Debbie Mitchell
My sincere condolences to the entire Heckman family. May God grant you comfort at this most difficult time ߙϰߙϰߙϰߙϰߙ My prayers are with all.
Our thoughts and prayers go to all of Helen’s family and friends. She was a strong leader and special person to our school community. She will be greatly missed. The students and staff of St. Bartholomew School
A beautiful soul that I had the honor to work with and continue to share Christmas cards and newsletters with. She will be greatly missed. Prayers to her beautiful family.
Helen was the first friend I ever had. We grew up down the street from each other and attended K-12 together. Helen taught me to how to tie my shoes. I guess she was a teacher from the start. Our freshman year at Scecina, the first dance was Homecoming. We were a little shy and awkward so we went together. She leaves a big hole in my heart. My friend Chuck, the boys, Mr Warner, Jack, and Marilyn please know my thoughts and prayers are with you all. Rest In Peace my friend.
I went to Scecina and was two years younger than Helen. We had a typing class together and sat next to each other. She was so nice to me and we laughed every day. I remember having a nosebleed in the middle of class once and she was so kind and helpful. I will always remember her kindness to me and her smile. ߒœ
It was a pleasure to work with her at St. Barnabas. She will be missed. Praying for her family. Judy Harkness
I always enjoyed sitting by Helen at CYO games and the kids activities. She was a beautiful, positive person! Family was everything to her, and she was a great wife and mother! I have no doubt she was an excellent educator as well!! We send our our prayers and deepest sympathies to Chuck, Patrick, David and Ryan. The Stegemillers
She was a good “neighbor” in the classroom next to mine & cohort at St. Barnabas during the years we taught together. Gone too soon. My prayers for her family. Margaret Beasley
Helen and I worked on the Claims IT team, and Bob hired/trained her at American States Insurance. We will remember Chuck and their family as well as Helen’s brother Jack in prayer. So sad for the loss of Helen. Rhonda and Bob Hine
At St. Bartholomews she told me if I wanted a catholic education for my boys she would help me make sure that happened, and then she did! We truly loved and adored her. She has help make St. Barts the high achieving academic school it is. Thank you Helen for all you did. We will miss you. Thoughts and prayers to her boys and family. We are so so very sorry. God Bless
So sorry for all of you. I worked with Helen at St. Barnabas. She was a good teacher and coworker. Prayers are for her family and school community.
I did not know her long but she will be missed. She was very welcoming every time I saw her.
Chuck, I am so sorry for you and the boys at this untimely loss. Helen was “like family” to us at St. B, so I know that you & her actual family are feeling this pain more keenly, but know that we share that pain. May our shared faith in God, and our belonging to Christ Jesus, whose victory over death we share, help us bear and overcome our grief. God be with you all! Fr. Clem Davis
Mrs. Heckman was the principal at St. Bartholomew School when my nieces and nephew attended there. She modeled the behaviors of involvement and service to the school and larger church community for her students and staff. She will be greatly missed by all.
So many fond memories of Helen and the Heckman family. Sending prayers of comfort and mourning a loss too soon.
Its been many years since I’ve seen Helen. About 43 years . I remember her being smart, full of life and a joy to be around . I’m sorry that she has passed and hope she will watch over all of us until we see her again. I was one of her classmates at Little Flower. Martin Cisco
“Helen Heckman” brought so many gifts to our life. We will never forget her! If was a pleasure to work with you.
I had the honor of serving with Helen in Catholic education for several years. Just this past year, Helen was named the Archdiocesan Principal of the Year and our nominee for the National Catholic Educational Association’s Learn.Lead.Proclaim. Award. This speaks to Helen’s love for Christ, her servant’s heart, her dedication, and her gifts as a leader. Helen will be missed. Please know of my prayers for you, Chuck, and your family during this difficult time and always. May she rest in eternal peace. Gina Kuntz Fleming
I have known Helen Warner Heckman since she was in high school and started dating Chuck Heckman (my first cousin). I observed from a distance as Helen and Chuck’s relationship evolved and they got married and started their family and careers. I observed both Helen and Chuck demonstrate dedication to both their careers and growing family of 3 boys (David, Ryan and Patrick). Helen and Chuck has raised 3 wonderful sons. The passing of Helen Heckman is very heartbreaking. I will continue to keep Helen, Chuck, David, Patrick and Ryan Heckman in my prayers as they transition through the tragic and untimely passing of Helen.
Our love and deepest sympathies are with you at this most difficult time. We love Aunt Helen so much and will always remember her.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May you be comforted by the outpouring of love surrounding you. With love and hugs,
Dearest Heckman Family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. Lots of love, your St Vincent Internal Medicine Family
So many are hurting from Helen’s loss. I knew her at St. B as principal to my kids and worked with her on school commission over the past 3+ years. She was fiercely dedicated to making St. B school better. I know from talking with her she was more dedicated to her family and extremely proud of her sons.
Dear Chuck, Patrick, David, and Ryan, Our family has so many happy memories from Black Oak Dr. Our kids playing together, the block parties, fireworks in the cul da sac. Helen was always so caring and kind. A wonderful mother and friend. We hope these memories will provide comfort in the days to come. You are in our hearts and prayers. Jim, Susan, David and Josh Haines
Helen and I have been best of friends since high school. I have 40 some years of memories of our good times together. Lots of joking, laughing, sharing, comparing, worrying, and supporting; but mostly a lot of celebrating. We celebrated the usual things, weddings, birthdays, etc. but I think most of what we did was celebrate friendship. We tried to always be there for one another to support and listen and guide and love. I will never be able to recall every moment of our lives together there were so many, but I will never forget what a precious gift of friendship I had with Helen. My sincerest sympathy to everyone who is feeling loss at her passing. Chuck, Patrick, David, Ryan, all the members of the Heckman and Warner families, find comfort in knowing she loved you with all her kind and beautiful heart. Maureen Bard
My deepest sympathy to all of Helen’s family, prayers to Chuck, Patrick, David and Ryan. My heart goes out to all of you during this difficult time. Being next door neighbors on Black Oak Drive for many years, we shared great times including block parties and our two youngest playing together. In the summer, Chuck and Helen graciously opened their pool for the block parties! Helen made this amazing broccoli salad that all of us enjoyed! Helen was always so kind and gracious as a neighbor and a friend. I am so incredibly saddened to hear of her passing. Helen was an amazing person and will be missed by many. ♡ Karin Smith
Hope you find Peace Today Jack and Family.
David, Our deepest sympathies to you and your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
We are so sorry to hear this news and wanted to let you know we are praying for peace and comfort for you all during this difficult time. God Bless. Your Neighbor – The Welch’s Bonnie, Patric, Devin and Aidan
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time.
Beautiful tribute to a beautiful life well lived
In 2015, Helen graciously took on the role as my principal mentor and buddy. She was so smart and funny. Helen gave the best advice and had a tremendous capacity for quickly sorting through thorny problems to find strong, common sense solutions. She was so very kind and helpful. Even in the craziest of times of being a principal, Helen always had time to help, to share information, and to be a good friend. Helen was a gift to us all and she will be greatly missed. Madonna Paskash
Helen had a blue 10 speed bicycle that I was so envious of. I saw her riding one day and asked her if I could ride her bike. She was so sweet and laughed with me when I couldn’t figure out the crazy gears! Today, when I see a blue bike I think of Helen. May she Rest In Peace. May her family know that she gave me a wonderful memory and a lovely lesson in kindness.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. We will never forget the love, compassion, and kindness Mrs Heckman gave to our family at St. Bartholomew. She was an incredible educator and full of faith. We miss her. Erin, Luke, Micah, and Eli Corya
Today is a sad day. Our School Principal has passed away and I can’t stop crying. Seven years ago, my first call to the only school I ever considered, when we were told we were moving to Columbus, was also the first call that Mrs. Heckman received as the new St. Bartholomew Principal. For seven years St B’s has been our second home, the place where we have found the family that we don’t have around. Years of volunteering allowed me to spend time with a woman that I got to respect and admire so much. Helen always had her door open for me. She was so supportive and appreciative of parent’s efforts to make St B’s the best place for our kids! I would go to her with ideas, suggestions and even concerns. Sometimes we didn’t see eye to eye, but she valued my opinion, put herself in my shoes and did her best to address my concerns. And the most evident thing was her fierce loyalty to her team. The St. Bartholomew staff couldn’t have had a better advocate. I hope they know that she always had their backs. I always thought that Helen wasn’t the sweet, sensitive, tender type. I saw her as a business woman, smart, determined, direct, hardworking. And I loved her for that. My last memory of her, a couple of weeks ago, showed me the other side of Mrs. Heckman. She was standing at the school office when a first grade boy run straight to her and gave her a hug. They way she hugged him back and look at him directly into his eyes surprised me and made me smile. There was Helen, the teacher, loving her students the way only a teacher could love a child. Rest in peace Mrs. Heckman. You were gone too soon. We will miss you.
May God give you strength in this difficult time. Helen has had a huge and indelible effect on the lives of our family. May she rest in heavenly peace
Helen was a great principal and boss for 7.5 years of my teaching career. I fondly remember car rides together going to deanery meetings all over southern Indiana. I especially enjoyed talking about the connection we had in Lake Wawasee. She and Chuck used to have a house on the lake and my wife’s grandparents also had a lake cottage up there. We still go up to the lake for a week every summer, as the cottage is still in the family. It was neat to have that connection. I will forever be grateful to have known and worked closely with Helen. – St. B’s Middle School Math Teacher
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Lit a candle in memory of Helen Warner Heckman
Helen and I were Real Estate Agents at the same F. C. Tucker Office. Helen was always well prepared as an agent and had a smile on her face. I remember when we talked about her family. She really wanted to see them more than was possible as a Realtor. She did not want to miss seeing her sons grow up. It is evident in her obituary that she achieved many goals, but the greatest love was her family. I am sad that she left you so quickly and at an early age. My husband and I will keep your family in our prayers . May you feel the closeness of God’s presence daily. Julie Woolard