Helen Marie Carney

Helen Marie Carney (née Ballah), a woman whose life was a testament to unwavering love, faith, and family, passed peacefully on February 10, 2025.  Born April 15, 1942, in Centralia, Illinois, to Luther and Ruth Wright Ballah, she was the seventh of nine children.  From her earliest years, Helen was known for her kindness, strength, and the deep love she held for her family – values that remained central to her life.

On August 14, 1960, she married the love of her life, Charles Carney, in Shattuc, Illinois, beginning a devoted partnership that spanned over six decades.  Together, they built a warm and loving home, a sanctuary where Helen dedicated herself to nurturing her family with unwavering care and affection.

Beyond her role as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Helen found immense joy in the simple pleasures of life.  She was a gifted homemaker, expressing her creativity through cooking, sewing, cake decorating, and painting ceramics.  Each holiday and season brought forth her passion for decorating, transforming her home into a warm and festive haven.  Her warmth, kindness, and unwavering faith touched everyone she encountered, leaving an enduring legacy of love and compassion.

Helen’s life was marked by profound moments shared with loved ones, offering words of wisdom and ensuring that everyone felt cherished.  While her physical presence is now absent, the love she so freely gave continues to shine through the generations she nurtured. Her memory will forever be held dear by all who knew and loved her.

Helen was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  Her three daughters, Carolyn Bagwell (Scott), Melissa Corbin (Dan), and DeAnna McCandless (Tim), brought her immense joy and pride.  She leaves behind a legacy of love, extending to her grandchildren: Austin Bagwell (Taylor), Ian Bagwell, Tiffany McGrew (Marc), Trevor Greene, Aiden McCandless, Alaina McCandless, Alexander McCandless, and Andrew McCandless.  Her great-grandchildren, Arthur Bagwell, Tristan Bagwell, Elyana McGrew, Kora McGrew, and Enrique Martinez. She is also survived by Margaret Maddux & Betty Tillman

Helen was preceded in Death by, Beula Edler, Jean Appling, Paul Ballah, and Bill Ballah.

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