Helen Faye Pansing Reese

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Helen Faye Pansing Reese, 74, of Du Quoin and formerly of Carterville, died Tuesday, May 29, 2012, after a long and courageous battle with cancer at Carbondale Rehab and Nursing Center, surrounded by her family.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 1, 2012, at Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke Funeral Home in Carterville, with the Rev. Robert Gray officiating. Burial was in Metropolis Memorial Gardens. Visitation began after 6:00 p.m., Thursday, May 31, 2012, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 or to Passages Hospice, Attn: Mary Ann Cassidy, 120 N. Tower Road, Suite A, Carbondale, IL 62901. Envelopes will also be available at the funeral home.

Helen was born May 23, 1938, in Metropolis to Irvin and Lucille (Mittendorf) Brugger. She married Odell Pansing on June 24, 1956, in Metropolis; he preceded her in death on May 24, 1981. She later married Terry Reese on June 13, 1998, in Carbondale.

She is survived by her husband, Terry Reese of Du Quoin; sons and daughter-in-law, Bryan and Dianne Pansing of Jackson, Ala. and Myron Pansing of Herrin; daughter and son-in-law, Rosina and Keith Bonifield of Carterville; grandchildren, Bradley and Branson Pansing, both of Jackson, Ala., Rachel and Ryan Bonifield, both of Carterville, and Erica and Savana Pansing, both of Carterville; brother and sister-in-law, Melvin and Cindy Brugger of Metropolis; step-children and their spouses, Terry and Karen Reese of Carbondale, Thomas and Mary Reese of Herrin, April and John Needham of DeSoto, and Kim and Brandon Buser of Vergennes; 11 step-grandchildren; seven step great-grandchildren and her beloved dog, Jill.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Odell Pansing; infant brother and great grandchild.

She was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Carbondale.

For a couple of years, she worked as a cook at the Carterville Grade School. She then worked as a bookkeeper at the Bank of Carbondale, Peoples Bank in Marion and Old National Bank of Carbondale, retiring in 1998.

Helen enjoyed crocheting and sewing. She was an excellent cook and known for her Christmas goody trays.

She loved listening to country music, especially Randy Travis and Johnny Cash.

Helen truly loved spending time with her family, in particular, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by them.

To view this obituary and sign the guest register, please visit www.rigginpillatschburkefh.com.