Obituary for Opal “Helene” Fay

Graveside services for Opal “Helene” Fay will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at Otterbein Cemetery, with Clayton Weaver officiating. The Price-McElroy Funeral Home in Kenton is assisting the family with arrangements.

Opal “Helene” Fay, 86, of Kenton, passed away on the evening of Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Kenton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was born on October 6, 1940, the oldest child of the late Earl and Fern Heilman. She was preceded in death by two younger brothers, Lewis Earl Heilman and Tim Heilman, both of Ridgeway.

Surviving are two younger sisters, Peggy (Clayton) Weaver and Deb (Keith) Kavanagh, both of Ridgeway, and a sister-in-law, Donna Heilman of Ridgeway.

Helene married Sonny Fay on September 2, 1958. She is survived by her children: Tammi Jo Chelette and Tonya (Eric) VanBuskirk, both of Kenton, and Jim (Lori) Fay of Harrison, Arkansas. She was also blessed with many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Helene loved her family deeply and enjoyed cooking. She served as the Chef for the Coach Room at the Mt. Victory Plaza for 25 years. She attended Kenton Full Gospel Church and dearly loved her pastors, Anita and Richard VanBuskirk. One of Helene’s greatest joys in her later years was volunteering with the Bread of Life Food Pantry at Kenton Full Gospel Church.

The family extends special heartfelt gratitude to Keith Kavanagh and her nephew for faithfully visiting Helene at the Kenton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and praying with her weekly since January 2026. Additional thanks go to the staff at Kenton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Tranquility Hospice for the care, kindness, and respect shown to Helene.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Bread of Life Food Pantry at Kenton Full Gospel Church.

Online condolences may be expressed at pricefh.net.