Helen M. Heberlein

Helen Merle Heberlein was born in McAllen Texas to her parents Merle Dale and Veronica Mary Hommel. Due to an unfortunate accident Helen became an orphan at the age of six. Through her perseverance and determination she thrived in the family of an aunt and uncle and got a full scholarship to Scott and White Nursing School in Temple, Texas at the age of eighteen. Helen loved people and sports and was very popular in school. She played college basketball and loved going to the beach with her many friends.

A couple years into schooling at Scott and White she met the love of her life her husband now of 57 years. That man is Russell Heberlein who was stationed at Fort Hood in Temple. Russ said it was Helen’s beautiful green eyes that got him. After graduating nursing school in 1954 Russ and Helen were married in Denver, Colorado in 1955. Helen worked at VA Hospital and Presbyterian Hospital in Denver during the early years of their marriage.

Russ and Helen started their family right away. They had four children in six years: Becky, Craig, Eric and Laura. Russ worked construction and Helen and the kids followed Russ’s construction around the Denver and Rocky Mountain area for a number of years.

Helen was a great wife of the sixties and seventies. She would starch shirts, hankies and even jeans for Russ. There were always home cooked meals. After raising her children for a number of years Helen went back to full time nursing after the fourth child was in kindergarten. At that time she was working for St. Anthony’s Central Hospital. Even though she worked nights she still cooked a hot breakfast for the kids before school. And even when Russ was out of town a lot Helen managed the house and held down a full time job.

In 1970 the Heberleins settled in Golden, Colorado and Helen joined St. Josephs Parish. Helen’s faith and love of God and Church helped her with her family when times got tough raising four children. One of Mom’s favorite sayings was “Let go and let God.” As a member of Saint Josephs Church for 43 years Helen had many great friends. She started the Visitation Committee and devoted years to helping housebound Catholics. Helen got great pleasure out of helping others and praying with them and giving Holy Communion. She was a great hostess too. She loved to cook she said because she loved to eat. She was also a lover of travel. Her travels took her to many sacred sites to visit holy grounds and Churches. One of her most memorable trips was to Medjugorje and Rome to the Vatican. She loved the Virgin Mary, The Mother of God because Mary always leads us to her Son. I think Helen had empathy for Mary because she was continually praying the Rosary and always praying for Peace. I think my mother was the first person to tell me when I was pretty young about the Bible verse Hebrews 13:2 ; Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. My mother seemed to be a counselor to anyone who needed someone to listen to their problems.

She also loved to knit, crochet and sew. She has made beautiful quilts, doilies, afghans & throws. She loved gardening. When moving to Golden, the yard was a weed bank & rocky yard. They moved the rocks, pulled the weeds and placed plants & grass to make a beautiful garden.

We love you Helen!

Our wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, cousin, co-worker, neighbor.

Helen leaves behind her loving husband Russ Heberlein, daughter Rebecca Langley, son Craig Heberlein, daughter Laura Heberlein; three granddaughters, Rachel Fogg (Christopher), Kara Heberlein, Alison Langley; two great-granddaughters Joanna and Alexandra Fogg. Also a dearly loved brother Robert Hommel (RosaLei).

In lieu of flowers donations in Helen's name may be made to The Denver Hospice, 501 S. Cherry Street #700, Denver, CO 80246