Helen C. Bacher

Helen C. Bacher, née Helen Jeanne Cruttenden, born November 10, 1934, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, passed into the loving presence of God on May 18, 2025. She had most recently celebrated a festive 90th birthday wearing a sparkling tiara, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Burton J. Bacher, whom she married in 1986. They enjoyed twenty-nine years together. They served side-by-side at a free medical clinic in their later years. Helen was also predeceased by her first husband, Donald D. Lanese, to whom she was married for twenty-seven years and with whom she raised two daughters, Lynn Lanese and Jeanne Lanese Riek (Jim). Helen had a passion for the arts in all forms. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Case Western Reserve University, while also studying Voice Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and earned a Certificate in Art Education from the Cleveland Institute of Art. She worked as an art educator in public and private schools and programs ranging from the Pontiac Art Center to the Cranbrook Museum. In the 1970s and 80s, her talents led her to found and serve as managing director of the Académie des Beaux Arts and the Actors Alliance Theater. She worked as a writer for Lawrence Technological University for almost ten years. Throughout her life, she sang, volunteering in her church choirs as well as serving as a lay eucharistic minister. Many fondly remember her Christmas Eve solos of Oh, Holy Night. She absolutely shone as a voice and piano teacher well into her mid-eighties, finding great reward in her students’ joy and increased confidence as they developed their talents. She adored the ballet, the arts, and music. Education was a priority in her family. She read audiobooks voraciously when her eyesight failed, studying history, literature, biographies, politics, wars, and ancient civilizations, along with geophysics, quantum physics, and anything she could get her hands on. Helen enjoyed the last years of her life living in the loving care of her daughter, Lynn. She adored being part of the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren there. We are grateful for the blessing of her long, happy life, her love, and the myriad ways she supported each of us. We will treasure her memory. Helen is also survived by her step-children, Allyn Bacher (Jeffrey Chong), Michael Bacher (Kim), grandchildren Gregory Gumina (Casey), William Gumina, Alex and Callie Riek, Jacob and Andrew Bacher, Eli Bacher-Chong, and great-grandchildren Charlie and RJ Gumina. She was preceded in death by her parents, Phillips and Mary Cruttenden, and her brother, Myron Cruttenden. A memorial service will take place on Sunday, June 29th at 2:00 pm at Christ Church Cranbrook, 470 Church Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304. The service will also be live-streamed via the link: https://christchurchcranbrook.org/church-at-home/ The family requests that any remembrances be made in Helen’s name to the Friends of Christ Church Cranbrook Music Program: https://onrealm.org/ChristChurchCranbrook/-/form/give/now

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Helen C. Bacher

November 10, 1934 - May 18, 2025