Helen Marian Czapla, 87, of Genoa, Nebraska, died Monday, March 18, 2024, at Genoa Community Hospital LTC.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, March 26, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Genoa with Father Bill L'Heureux and Father Don Czapla concelebrating the Mass. Visitation will be on Monday, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, with a Vigil Service at 7:00 PM, and visitation will continue on Tuesday, from 9:30 AM until service time, all at the church. Interment will be in Valley View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Genoa Medical Facilities long term care unit. The Mass will be broadcast live on the Gass Haney Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057043736890

Marian was born to Howard Marion Shelhorn and Frances Mary (Werner) Shelhorn on January 3rd, 1937 in Omaha, Nebraska.  Her father, Howard, passed away on the day of her birth, and her mother, Frances, would later marry Earl Fish on February 20th, 1943 in Papillion, Nebraska.  The family moved to Chadron, Nebraska prior to 1950 where Marian would graduate from Chadron Prep in 1954.  In 1957 Marian graduated from Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Omaha with a bachelor's degree in nursing.  She completed her clinical studies at St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island, Nebraska.  Marian would go on to work at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, St. Mary's Hospital in Columbus, St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island, and the Genoa Hospital.

Marian married Clarence John Czapla on April 23, 1960.  Marian and Clarence would spend the next 60 plus years in Genoa raising a family on their farm.  In addition to raising 7 children, Marian served as a Home Health Care Nurse for 20 years.  Marian also served as a Hospice volunteer for 18 years.  Marian supported the Genoa community through volunteering as a 4-H leader, CCD teacher, prenatal instructor, member and officer of the Parish Altar Society, member of the American Legion Auxiliary, delivering meals on wheels, and serving the Omaha Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women. She was a caring, compassionate, and giving person who saw the best in everyone and treated everyone with dignity. She thought everyone deserved to be respected as evidenced by the numerous acknowledgements given to her. She received the Prestigious Mullen Award for Community Civic and Social Work, as well as awards, honors, and recognitions for her work in the home health care, hospice, and palliative care fields.

Marian is survived by her sister Florence Thompson, brother Guy Fish, her daughters Eileen (Milt) Haslam and Kathy (Don) Week, sons Fr. Don, Mark, Gary (Amy) and Paul (Sheila); grandchildren, Andrew (Adrian) and Alyssa Czapla, Jessica Czapla, Matt, Ashlyn, and Zach Week, Marissa (Marc) Mezzacappa, Ben, and Ethan Czapla and Jacob and Allie Czapla and great granddaughter Lily Czapla.

Marian was preceded in death by her husband Clarence, her eldest son Thomas Czapla, grandson Henry John Czapla, and her parents Frances, Howard, and step-father Earl Fish.