Helen
M.
Speith
)Tatman
Obituary
Helen Mae Spieth Tatman, 94, was born June 29,1929, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and passed away peacefully Saturday, November 25, 2023, in Kissimmee, Florida, with Darrell and Terri by her side.
Helen was born the fifth of 15 children. She attended St. Andrew Grade School and Central Catholic High School. One of her first jobs was at Wayne Knitting Mill where she met and worked with her future father-in-law, Al Tatman. Helen met Howard at a Hogland square dance, and they continued to square dance throughout their lives, joining Orbiting Squares in Ohio and Disney Squares in California. Helen had an adventurous life with Howard. She lived in a dozen different cities in five states, took road trips to three dozen states, and visited Hawaii, Kwajalein, and Italy. Helen was an avid Ohio State Buckeye fan and enjoyed crocheting, playing boardgames, and playing card games including Bridge, Pinochle, and Euchre. After moving back to New Haven in 2012, she joined Loretta’s Euchre club. Helen was active in her church communities. She was a Sunday morning chef for priests at St. Philomena in California, taught religious education classes for decades, and was eucharistic minister at Mass and for the home bound. She attended daily Mass at St. John the Baptist and in recent years enjoyed watching daily Mass and Rosary on EWTN.
Helen is very loved and will be dearly missed. She is survived by children Darrell (Terri) Tatman of Florida, Dianna (Tom) Rogers of Minnesota, Dennis (Eve) Tatman of California; grandsons Christopher (Amanda) Rogers, Alex (Clare Hook) Tatman, John Tatman; granddaughters Carrie Rogers (Luke Johnson), Catherine Rogers, Laura Shauger (Jacob Kostecka), Susan (Andy) Malek; siblings Bill (Pat) Spieth, Anthony Speith, Bev (Larry) Martin, Shirley (Joe) Weldon; sisters-in-law Sandy Speith, Carol Speith, La Verne Lee, Barb Friedrich; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her husband of 59 years, Howard Elmer Tatman (1928-2012); parents John Francis Speith (1896-1984) and Rose Mae Speith (1905-1972); and siblings Loretta La Belle Go-On (1924-2022), Cecilia Lorie (1925-1925), Mary Ann (1927-1927), Dorothy Marie (1928-1935), Velma Jean (1931-1935), John Francis (1934-2017), Charles Fredrick (1937-1995), Rita Marie (1943-1943), David Michael (1944-2017), and Michael Joseph (1948-1948).
Visitation is Tuesday, December 12, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne with the Rosary at 6 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, December 13, 10:00 a.m. in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 943 Powers Street, New Haven, followed by burial in Catholic Cemetery.
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She was a wonderful grandmother and person in general, the type to still be standing up while everyone else was sitting down and eating. Wherever she is now, I’m sure she’s happy.