Helene Anne Daniels

Helene Anne Daniels, age 71, beloved wife and mother, passed away peacefully June 25, 2016 at her South Tampa home. She is survived by her husband, Dan Daniels; their four children, Jennifer (Andrew) Newman, David (Erin) Daniels, Rob (Patty) Daniels and Stacy (Jason) Streit; grandchildren Josh, Alexis, Grant and Max Newman and Audrey, Emma and Sarah Daniels; sister Marilyn (Paul) Katz; brother-in-law Dennis Fattaleh; sister-in-law Janet (Charles) Buhse; a nephew and nieces; cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents. Helene grew up in Detroit and studied education at Michigan State, which is where she met the love of her life, Danny. She worked in the cafeteria and he saw her, this gorgeous young woman, and asked for a cup of coffee. She told him to get it himself. He was smitten. Helene seemed to always know who she was, even at that young age, when others take years to figure it out. She was confident. Smart. Not afraid to bend the rules. She loved her family fiercely. They were everything to her. She was always up for adventure and fun. She adored dancing to Motown and rock and roll. She was a nutrition buff who squirreled away chocolate and an unabashed fan of things that made life easier – microwaves, frozen party appetizers, babysitters. She strongly disliked animals, cats especially, with one exception – a chunky, snorting pug named Rocky, long gone from this earth, who slobbered his way into her heart. She was an extrovert. She gained energy from a room full of people, and people were drawn to her. She loved life, and you could see that energy sparkle in her eyes. She and Dan, who is more introverted, were a perfect match. With her, he ended up doing things he never thought possible, like when she talked her way backstage at a rock concert, taking him with her by the hand. They traveled throughout the U.S. and the world, with Helene making friends wherever they went. They loved going out to the theater, to movies and restaurants. Their lives were busy but balanced. They enjoyed quiet time. Helene was an avid reader and continually in a book club. She and Dan took walks together every day. It was on a walk when they decided, on a whim, to move to Australia shortly after their wedding in 1969. Those beautiful, carefree years were some of the best of their lives. They came back to the states after Jennifer was born and settled in East Lansing, Mich. They worked hard. From their garage, they created a large, successful art glass distribution company that is still in business today. In 1990, the family moved to South Tampa because Dan and Helene thought there would be a better chance their children would remain geographically close as adults – that there might be more job opportunities here and the warm, Florida weather would be enticing. And it worked. Their children and grandchildren live here, which meant the world to Helene and Dan; known to their grandchildren as Nanny and Pop Pop. Helene was a stay-at-home mother for much of their children’s lives. As their youngest, Stacy, grew up, Helene began teaching again. She was a substitute teacher for elementary schools in Hillsborough County and loved it, because she felt like she could make a difference in children’s lives. She taught until her illness forced her to quit five years ago. Helene was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which robbed this spirited, vibrant woman of her mobility and memory before it took her life. Yet, when Helene still had the ability to complain, she never did. She was brave. Helene and Dan made the most of the time they had. They traveled. They soaked up moments with their family. Dan cared for Helene and did all the things for her she couldn’t anymore. She died a few days shy of their 47th wedding anniversary. The day she died, her house was filled with sounds of her children, grandchildren and beloved sister, Marilyn. When she passed, her Danny was by her side, as always. A visitation will be held at Blount and Curry on June 29, 2016 from 2:30 - 3:00 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Cure PSP: http://www.psp.org/donate/tribute-gifts.html