Deceased: Helen Ivey Gairing
Date: February 26, 2002



  Helen Ivey Gairing (Nichols) passed away Feb. 25, 2002.


Mrs. Gairing was the only child of the late Louis Moon Nichols and Helen A. Hardy. Born Aug. 13, 1919, in Toledo, Helen moved to Piqua, Ohio, and graduated from Piqua High School. She attended Miami University and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education. While attending Miami University, Helen was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Following graduation, Mrs. Gairing returned to Piqua and taught in the Piqua Public School System (1941-1942). In 1942, Helen continued her education at Western Reserve University, earning a master's degree in June 1943. Helen was nominated to the Delta Kappa Gamma Society in 1946 while teaching in the Wadsworth City School system, where she taught French, Latin, and Geography for over 30 years. Throughout her teaching career, Mrs. Gairing organized numerous high school field trips with her students to French-speaking Canada. In her later years, she traveled frequently to France to further her education. Mrs. Gairing was married to Robert Joseph Gairing in June 1950 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Wadsworth. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church, Woman's Club of Wadsworth, and a volunteer for the American Red Cross.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband in 1964. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Walter A. (Elizabeth) Gairing, and sister-in-law, Rita M. Couch of Wadsworth. She is also survived by nephews, Daniel R. (Vicki) Gairing of Strongsville, Robert W. (Audrey) Gairing of Wadsworth, Thomas A. (Tracey) Gairing of Twinsburg; nieces, Kathy (Robert) Calhoun of Wadsworth, Leslie (Daniel) Miller of McKinney, Texas, and Christine (Joseph) Keller of Uniontown. Affectionately known as Aunt Ivey, she is also survived by 12 great-nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, 5 to 8 p.m., at Hilliard & Mullaney Funeral Home, 174 N. Lyman St., Wadsworth, where a prayer service will be held at 6 p.m. Funeral services Thursday, 10:30 a.m., at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic School Endowment Fund. (Hilliard & Mullaney, 330-334-1501.)