Helen was born in Chappell Hill, Texas October 24, 1927, to Theodore and Cecilia Koteras. She attended school finishing only the seventh grade caring for her siblings while her parents farmed. The family moved to Houston and Helen worked outside their home to help her parents. She processed ammunition for WWII and then worked at Phenix Dairy behind the counter. One day waiting for the bus, she met Lawrence Petrosky in 1945. They married in June 1947. She gave birth to Sharon and Donna, moving into their new brick home in Spring Branch in 1955. Craig was born in 1958 and mom returned to the workforce in 1960. Lawrence, an accountant, helped his bride become a bookkeeper. She worked at many offices over the years, retiring from O’Rourke Distributing in 1988. Even while working, mom attended most school events for her children and continued being in attendance for her grandchildren’s events. She loved her title “Mimi”.
As a couple, married 72 years, they enjoyed dancing to Polish music and playing 42 dominos with lifelong friends. Her favorite spots were camping in Bernardo or floating on the Comal River. Since her husband raised vegetables, she began a canning hobby and sharing their surplus with family and neighbors. Dementia robbed her of these memories, but we will never forget!
Helen is predeceased by her husband, Lawrence 2019, son, Craig 1987 and siblings baby brother Edmund Koteras, Ted Koteras and Gertrude Crosby. The family members missing mom and Mimi are daughters Sharon Biel, Donna Walker and husband Terris; grandchildren Shelley Salsgiver, Kristen Biel and Travis Walker; great-grandchildren Addison and Aubrey Salsgiver and baby Ryan Hartman.
You are welcome to join us for visitation, vigil and rosary at Waltrip Funeral Home 5 to 8 pm December 4 and mass at 10:30 am December 5 at St Jerome Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association.
