Helen Von Kreisler

Helen von Kreisler died on November 22, 2006, from complications of a heart attack. She was born on April 3, 1918, in Newark, New Jersey, the daughter of C.S. and Golda Thacker. She grew up in South Charleston, West Virginia, and lived in Austin, Texas, since 1945. Helen attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. She was a dedicated violinist all her life. Her music was of her heart. She leaves many pupils and dear friends who studied with her over decades. Helen was married to Alexander von Kreisler until his death in 1969. She is survived by her son, Nicolai, and wife, Linda, of Austin, Texas, and her daughter, Kristin, and husband John Bomben, of Bainbridge Island, Washington, and four grandchildren, Alexander von Kreisler and wife, Kelly, of Austin, Texas, Katherine Porter and husband, Richard, of Grand Prairie, Washington, and Elizabeth von Kreisler and Christian von Kreisler, both of Austin, Texas. Helen was delighted to have seven great-grandsons, Nicolai, Aaron, Kirk, and Kyle von Kreisler, of Austin, Texas, and Hayden Stults, Hudson and Calvin Porter, of Grand Prairie, Washington. Helen is survived also by her nieces, Carroll Sims of Boise, Idaho, and Frances Clark of Memphis, Tennessee, and their families. Helen was original and authentic, a woman of determination and discipline, humor and strength. She walked her own path. She was uncomplaining and faced adversity. She was eminently practical. She loved beauty. She loved animals, gardening, and all things of nature. She was intensely curious, a lifelong reader, most interested in people and their lives. She had a large store of knowledge. She was invariably imaginative and creative. She was outreaching, had a generosity of spirit, and gave much of herself to her family and friends. She touched many lives. Her love and understanding ran deep. She was an inspired artist and inspirational teacher, a steadfast friend, a contributor, a loving daughter, wife and mother. She tried her best. She was a voyager and a seer, a beacon of strength, an example for her family. Helen's family is grateful to Denise LoSchiavo and her family for their care, to special friends George MacDonough, Sydney Parks, and Robert Warren for their help and devotion, to neighbors Howard and Gail Neal, Spencer and Janet Ludlow, Robert and Lisa Lively, and Ryan and Laura Robinson, for their many kindnesses, to dear and loyal friends Don and Paula Wright, and to Dr. Jaron Winston and Dr. Isabel Hoverman. There will be a gathering of family and friends at Helen's home on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com