Helen P. Daley

Helen P. Daley, 76, of Indianapolis, passed away January 22, 2025. She was born January 19, 1949 in Southport, Indiana to the late Carl A. Fox and Frances V. Wycoff Fox. Helen was a graduate of Southport High School, received her B.S. from Ball State University and her M.S. from Butler University. In the early 1970’s, she was a teacher for Indianapolis Public Schools for seven years before transitioning to become an instructor and then supervisor of student teachers in the School of Education for Indiana University-Indianapolis working for 20 years before retiring in 2006. While at the university, Helen received the athletic department recognition award given to the professor selected by an athlete for having the most positive impact on her education. Helen was a substitute teacher and volunteer at Saint Jude School while her daughter and her daughter’s friends attended there. The family were members of Saint Jude Parish. She was a life-long cat lover and couldn’t drink anything but Coca Cola. Helen was an avid I.U. and Butler fan. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. Helen loved her family most of all. She would spend her time talking on the phone to her sisters. She doted on her husband, daughter and grandchildren to show her love to them. Helen is survived by her husband, Terry W. Daley; daughter, Amanda Harper (James); grandchildren, Kaylyn Harper and Jayden Harper; sisters, Norma Lively (F. Robert Lively) Carolyn Carroll (Judge Thomas Carroll) and Ann Osborne; and brother, Richard Fox (Ruby). She was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Billy Osborne. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Services are entrusted to Shirley Brothers Thompson Road Chapel, 3333 East Thompson Road. In lieu of flowers please recall a precious memory of Helen. The Eulogy for Helen Daley Terry met Helen in 1975. He first saw an attractive lively blonde; he came to see something special: her sensitivity great and small to people, movies, her pet cats, down to the lone Christmas tree on the lot. This quality was the foundation of their forty-eight-year marriage. Helen’s nature blossomed with the birth of her daughter. Mandy developed with her mother. Helen, setting aside for the time being her teaching career, spent so much time with her: playing early childhood games, many naturally educational; singing daily “Good morning to you” borrowing the “Happy Birthday” melody to put her in a good mood. In fact music became a shared experience as Helen recorded herself singing along with records, Mandy expected to solo as well. It was more Helen with a companion not a child. Mandy’s birthdays always went a step beyond, including one party when she was in high school attended by so many Roncalli High School football players and her fellow cheerleaders they could have had a scrimmage in the backyard. Helen’s dedication continued: starting school wasn’t an easy separation for Helen and Mandy because of this time they had spent together. Mandy took the bus for one week of first grade; she didn’t like it one bit, so typically, Helen took over, literally driving and picking her up for eight years, on schedule. She would arrive at 2:15 to get a special spot under the playground basketball goal so Mandy would see her first thing leaving the building at 3:00. Her mother was committed: she coached Mandy’s cheerleading squad from the backyard deck, she received an award as scorekeeper for Mandy’s City Champions kick ball team, she never missed a single back to school night. It continued at Roncalli High School with awards night and back to school nights to following her cheerleading activities her sophomore and junior years. College didn’t change anything. Mandy followed her mother to a degree at BSU; Helen followed Mandy to Muncie, driving up and down I-69 to make sure “our daughter has what she needs.” It continued for the next three years, Helen encouraging and attending mother-daughter and sorority activities etc., and always ready for visits with items needed, or unneeded but appreciated. After graduation Mandy started her teaching career, Helen typically diving in. When Mandy needed something, she got it. Before, during, or after school, Helen expected to be called. There was no difference in her marriage. As Terry recalls, in the first year of dating and early years of marriage he saw glimpses of special qualities. With Mandy came their development. And in later years of marriage he came to see how blessed he was: from how she would get little surprises as a lift or handle household details for him, to how she would appear casual about doctor’s appointments with a “how did it go?” to being the first person he would see after a surgery. Interestingly when something really mattered to Helen she would speak little of it. Not wanting to upset, through her calm she reassured. He concludes: During her hospitalization two years ago, I had time to review and reflect on just how much I had, with Helen. I understood…and felt, all the qualities defining who Helen was: the affection, the sensitivity, the concern, the behavior, all genuine, all instinct. I came to see “how God mapped out for me, the pathways of life.” He gave to me the proper circumstances and created in me the right nature to become with Helen the right person: Helen and I became the same.

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Helen P. Daley

January 19, 1949 - January 22, 2025