Mary Helen Otto (Brauner) Haindle

“She was always smiling & laughing. Her kindness & thoughtfulness was extended to friends, strangers, and acquaintances alike, through birthday and get well wishes or ‘thinking of you’ cards. Once you were her friend, it was for life!” This is the legacy that Mary Helen Otto (Brauner) Haindle has left. What a testament to a life well-lived!

Mary Helen, age 87, passed from our presence Friday, July 31, 2015, into the well-deserved Eternal Life.

Born on All Saints’ Day, November 1, 1927, the third child of Rudolph A. & Helen Mary Otto, her late parents, she joined siblings Linnell O. Gaspard (Johnny), of Metairie, and her late brothers, Rudolph A., Jr., and William Otto, in their New Orleans home. Her deep and constant Catholic faith and the foundation of her life of loving all and living “The Beatitudes” was established and nurtured by her mother, Helen Mary, in Holy Rosary Church Parish.

After graduating from John McDonough (class of 1945), she worked for the George H. Lehleitner & Co., Wholesale Distributors, while she was married to the late Henry J. “Dutch” Brauner. Their marriage produced six daughters: Barbara B. Barbe’ (Gerald) of Slidell; Kathleen B. Winkler (Dennis) of Spring, TX; Susan B. Landeche (David) of Madison, MS; Elizabeth Ann Brauner (deceased 1977); Mary Helen B. Fontaine (Ray, Jr.); and Janet B. Mills (Gary), both of Slidell. Mary Helen is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

She married her second husband, the late George Haindle, Sr., in 1975, and moved to Luling. She worked at St. Charles Parish Assessor’s Office and later as a bookkeeper for Holy Family Catholic Church.

Mary Helen was committed to service and volunteerism. She was an active member, officer, and committee chair for many decades in the Ladies’ Auxiliaries of the American Legion, VFW, and the Forty & Eight service organizations.

Acknowledging her extraordinary community service, Mary Helen was presented with “The Order of St. Louis Medallion” by Archbishop Francis B. Schulte at St. Louis Cathedral on May 26, 1991. One of the highest lay recognitions presented by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the Archbishop wrote, “You have been selected to receive (the medallion) in recognition of your great dedication and years of service to the Church in our Archdiocese.”

She and the Rev. John Finn, Pastor of Holy Family Church, established a Senior Citizen Ministry, “The Busy Bees.” As its founder and long-time “Queen Bee Coordinator”, Mary Helen began the second major part of her life. Mary Helen organized, planned, and coordinated service projects, events and logistics involved with the Busy Bees. She also served as Tour Escort when the group began traveling around the United States and the world. Mary Helen’s legacy of community service continues through the group she helped establish, as the Busy Bees remain active today.

In a 1995 article, the Times-Picayune reported, “Haindle,…proved to be a natural organizer (of)… meetings, … health-related events… and (service activities)…”

Mary Helen moved from Luling to an assisted living facility in River Ridge before moving to Slidell and then Mandeville where she passed away.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at LAKE LAWN METAIRIE FUNERAL HOME, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans, on Monday, August 10, 2015 at 1:00PM. Interment will follow in Metairie Cemetery. A visitation will be held at the funeral home beginning at 10:00AM. In lieu of flowers, Masses are preferred.

To view and sign the guest book, visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.