Maria Helen Wirtz, 78, of Valparaiso passed away Thursday, June 23, 2022. She was born February 2, 1944, in East Chicago to Antonio and Aurora (Ortega) Velasquez. Helen graduated from Emerson High School in Gary, and went on to work as a Secretary for the Prosecutor’s Office in Gary, before becoming the Vice President of R & D Development, a mechanical contract company. She was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in South Haven and lived her life with a strong Christian faith. Helen was very family oriented. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her beloved children and grandchildren. Helen will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
On May 18, 2002, Helen married Robert Wirtz, who survives, along with her sons: Daniel Munoz of Valparaiso, Adam (Kasia) Rodriguez of Chicago, IL, Christopher A. Rodriguez of New Orleans, LA; stepchildren: Laura Shade of Hammond, Joseph Wirtz of Chicago, IL, Michael (Meleah) Rodriquez of FL, Vincent Rodriguez of Las Vegas, NV; grandchildren: Felix and Zofia Rodriguez; step-grandchildren: Collin and Logan Shade; brothers: Tony, Charles, Edmund, and Mario Velasquez; and sisters: Teresa Jarecki, Margaret Martin, and Ophelia Rice. She was preceded in death by her parents, Antonio and Aurora Velasquez; brother, Robert Velasquez; and sister, Aurora Vela.
A memorial service will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 760 McCool Road, South Haven, IN, on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to the church.
