Mary Helen Eckrich

Mary Helen Eckrich passed from this life on November 20, 2024. She was born Mary Helen Coomes on October 26, 1929, to Anthony and Ruby (Adkinson) Coomes in Louisville, KY. Mary Helen graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, Indianapolis, in 1947 and received a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Education from Marian College in 1979.

 Mary Helen had many loves during her life, the longest lasting being her love of the Mass and Catholic Eucharist. She shared her deep faith with her father, who died when she was just 6 years old. Through his teachings, Mary Helen never doubted that God was her guiding light and Christ was in control.

 Throughout Mary Helen’s life, her large family brought her the most pride. She was the older sister of Carole Coomes Hill and then in 1948, she married the love of her life, Matthew Eckrich, Jr. They were inseparable from 1944 until he left us to meet Jesus on September 19, 2011 after 63 years of marriage. Mary Helen and Carole’s families shared many camping trips, bonfires and times together and loved making memories to last a lifetime.

 Together Matt and Mary Helen lovingly raised 8 children: Teresa (Denise Stone), Cathy (John) Walter, Christina Tebbe, John Eckrich, Mark (Nancy) Eckrich, Tom (Patti) Eckrich, Betsy (Ashly Insco) Glowinski and Kevin (Janice) Klaiber, whom they lovingly added to their fold in 1975. She was enormously proud of her children, their spouses, her 20 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren: always attending as many events and celebrations throughout her life as possible. Mary Helen thrived on the connections with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She couldn’t wait for the next phone call or visit loved inviting them over for game night, participating in an impromptu book club, or taking advantage of a teachable moment to impact the next generation.

 Mary Helen served the Catholic Church in many roles throughout her life, as a member of Holy Name Parish in Beech Grove, IN, and St Barnabas and Little Flower Parishes in Indianapolis, IN. She was a member of Holy Name’s Altar Society, a Cub Scout Den Mother, she taught Religious Education teacher. She was a decades-long member of the Little Flower Adult Choir and a participant of the Christ Renews His Parish (CHRP) program at St. Barnabas. Later in life, Mary Helen and Matt taught Pre-Cana and Sex and Family Planning for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. During the Natural Family Planning classes, the young people were very polite and didn’t laugh when she and Matt told them that they had 8 kids, but originally talked about having 15.

 Approximately 12,000 children and adults were influenced by Mary Helen throughout her years of service and teaching. Throughout her life, Mary Helen had an absolute passion for teaching all levels and ages of students. She taught a variety of subjects throughout her career including Language Arts, History, Science, Religion, and Art, as a teacher at both at Holy Name School and Scecina High School

 Mary Helen’s favorite charities were the Catholic Schools, but she cared about all service organizations and gave generously to many of them. She was recognized many times for her dedication to Catholic education and for the love she shared with her students. In 2003, she received the Mother Theodore Guerrin award and in 2007 she received the Celebrating Catholic School Values award, both from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. In 2005 she received the St. Francis of Assisi Spirit and Values Award from Marian College.

 Mary Helen’s kindness and loving spirit will be greatly missed. In addition to her parents Ruby & Anthony Coomes and her sister, Carole, she was preceded in death by her husband Matthew J. Eckrich Jr., daughters Teresa Eckrich and Christina Tebbe, son Timothy and grandson Johnny Walter.

 Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 25, 2024, from 4:00 – 8:00 pm at O’Riley-Branson Funeral service & Crematory,  6107 S. East Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46227. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 10:00 am St. Therese of the Infant Jesus Catholic Church (Little Flower) located at 4720 E. 13th St. Indianapolis. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Indianapolis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contribution to be made to Little Flower Catholic School.

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