Helen Gross

Helen Gross, 93, of Peru passed away August 8, 2017, at Heritage Health in Peru. Mass of Christian burial will be at 12:00 p.m. Saturday in St. Valentine’s Church, Peru with the Rev. Jacob Rose officiating. Burial will be in Peru City Cemetery following mass. Visitation will be at the church prior to mass from 10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Ptak Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Helen was born October 2, 1923, in Peru to John and Mihalina (Wawrzyniak) Owiecki. She married John Gross on June 23, 1943, in St. Valentine’s Church. John preceded her in death on January 9, 2001. Mrs. Gross was a member of St. Valentine’s Church and later St. Joseph’s Church. She was active in the church and sometimes attended mass twice a day. Helen had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and prayed the rosary daily. She was an LPN at IVCH for over 30 years where she spent most of her time in labor and delivery until her retirement in 1991. Following retirement, she then went to be a cook at St. Bede Academy for 8 years. In her spare time, she loved to paint, make crafts and be a caregiver to others. Survivors include her son, Dennis (Carol) Gross of LaSalle, daughter, Linda Heather of Iowa, six grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by six brothers, four sisters and one son in infancy.