Grace Margaret Helfer

With great sadness we announce the loss of our beloved mother, Grace Margaret Helfer. On December 22, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 75, Grace entered fully into the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ after a two-and-a-half-year courageous battle with cancer, passing from this life to eternal life peacefully at her home with loving family by her side. We find comfort in knowing that she is reunited again with her beloved husband of 35 years, Paul Emil Helfer, who entered eternal rest in 2020, and her beloved eldest son, Steven John Sanwald, who returned home to the Lord in 2011, and her departed beloved parents and other loved ones.

Grace was born in Manhattan, New York in 1947, and was raised along with her siblings in Richmond Hill, New York by her loving and caring parents, Donald and Dolores MacDonald. Grace’s childhood was filled with the richness of love that came from her parents, growing up with her siblings, Lawrence and Donald, and time shared with extended family (grandmother Nana, and aunts & uncles that she loved to spend time with during their visits from Buffalo, and other areas in New York.) After graduating in 1965 from John Adams High School in Ozone Park, New York, Grace married her first husband, John F. Sanwald in 1966, and to this union two children were born, Lorraine Ann in 1968, and Steven John in 1971. This marriage ended in 1979, and both Grace and John worked together peacefully and amicably in the upbringing of their children, providing an atmosphere that was stable, supportive, and caring.

During the early 80’s, Grace welcomed learning new skills as she started to enter the work force, advancing in secretarial and office positions; she became a proficient typist, expert in imports and exports operations, office operations, and developed strong customer service skills. Her dedication and strong work ethic radiated positivity, patience, skill, and proficiency in the positions she held which she continued to improve upon and model throughout her working career.

While working for Arabian National in New York in the 1980’s, Grace met the love of her life, her now-departed husband Paul E. Helfer. They met by seeing each other every day on the same avenue where Paul owned his business and where Grace was employed. Our mother, Grace, explained their meeting as, “I would see Paul and he would see me; we would wave ‘hello’ to each other every day, and say a few words to each other, and then as time went by both of us just knew in our hearts that ‘we’ were meant to be.”Grace married Paul in 1985, and together they formed a wonderful supportive union based on love, respect, and friendship, that they held together for 35 years. Grace and Paul welcomed their new son together, Emil Paul Helfer, born in 1986. Shortly later, they relocated away from the hustle and bustle of Queens, New York to the tranquil presence of nature and pines trees in Saylorsburg, PA together, equally in pursuit of a slower paced life and environment in which to raise their son Emil, surrounded by the beauty of the countryside.

While living in Saylorsburg, PA, Grace continued working outside the home, and was employed at Guardian Life. She dedicated herself to the company for 15 years, and is remembered for her consistent positivity, and as a dependable, trustworthy, valued team member. While at Guardian Life, she met and cultivated relationships with several co-workers who came to be treasured life-long friends of hers. In 2008, Grace being ready for new changes in her life joyfully entered retirement.

Although Grace found fulfillment in her working career, it was within her family life where her true heart gravitated. She enjoyed being, first and foremost, a supportive wife and mother, and she treasured her husband Paul, all her children, grandchildren, family, extended family, and friends. She was very close to her own parents throughout her life, and gave freely and easily of her heart, sharing her bright spirit, and caring personality with those she loved.

Her supportive nature, and loving acceptance touched our lives greatly as her children. Our Mom provided love, friendship, and a solid foundation, and granted us, her children, the freedom to learn, grow, live, and experience life, and find our own individual identities while at the same time always providing unconditional love, acceptance, and a listening guiding heart. Our Mom’s heart and home was always open, always kind, always warm, and always special. Words cannot fully describe the deep sorrow we feel in her absence and how greatly she will be missed from our lives. We take solace in knowing that her unending love and guidance, and the beautiful memories we each shared with her will always be cherished and with us in our hearts forever.

In 2011, Grace relocated with her husband Paul to Seguin, Texas, to be closer to family. Together, they enjoyed living on their property in the Texas countryside among the serenity of nature, post oak trees, wildlife, warm, sunny weather, and the brilliant star-filled night skies.

In Texas, Grace spent her retirement years enjoying quality time spent with her husband, family, pets, and friends. She loved to go on rides exploring new places, sites, and small towns to visit in Texas with her husband. She had a great passion for all types of gardening, (flowers, vegetables, and fruits), enjoyed baking and reading inspirational books, loved and delighted in feeding the animals that would come to visit their property, (deer, squirrels, and birds), and relished in the warmth, spending time outdoors, and taking dips and cooling off in their backyard pool. Mom also loved to keep fit through exercising, had a lifelong love of many genres of music, with some of her absolute favorites through the years being classic R&B music, Queen-Freddie Mercury, Moby, Yanni, Christian Praise and Worship music, and of more recent, the music artistry of the Two Cellos. Grace will always be remembered as a loving wife, caring mother, prayerful grandmother, thoughtful aunt, positive and bright spirit, genuine friend, energetic person, and an interested caring listener to all she met.

A life fully and well lived does not come without sorrows and tears. And our dear mother Grace lived through many disappointments, struggles, and losses in her life, yet she always maintained and displayed an optimistic, and hopeful attitude about life and its challenges, even when life and times got tougher than tough. She modeled strength to us in her steadfast endurance, while always keeping a bright outlook, and seeing the best even in difficult situations, and always displayed a cheerful, prayerful, and grateful heart. She kept her heart and mind close to the Lord through her unwavering faith, prayer time, worship, and readings of God’s Word. Grace always knew who she was, being a precious child of God, and that ‘truth’ brought her through many sorrowful and low parts in her life. She loved the Lord, shared with us where her strength came from, attributing and acknowledging Jesus Christ our Lord, and His great love and goodness above all.

Our Mom, Grace, was a kind and gentle soul, and cheerful giver. She committed herself to helping those in need through donating consistently and faithfully to many organizations that help and support children, animals, and veterans, among some to mention, for years; and faithfully supported and advocated for Suicide Awareness and Prevention, supporting, and actively participating in ‘Out of the Darkness Walks’ every year since the passing and loss of her first-born son, Steven John Sanwald, in 2011.

Grace will greatly be missed beyond measure from all whom knew and loved her; and we will always cherish the beautiful memory of her that she leaves behind with us; her sweet presence, laugh, smile, and silly ways, her love and affection, her kindness and friendship, and all of whom ‘she’ was in our lives until that wonderful day when we are reunited again with her in Heaven.

Grace is survived by her children: daughter, Lorraine Ann Gonzales (Steven Joseph) and son, Emil Paul Helfer (Erika); grandchildren, Steven Paul Sanwald, Katelyn Arlene Sanwald, and John Andrew Sanwald; nieces, Dolores Mac Donald, Emily Mac Donald, Kim Burnett, Kristin Doyle, Caitlyn Bennett, and Claire Bennett; grand-nephew, Julian Rydberg; sister-in-law, Sharyn Stern; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Irene and Martin Bennett; fmr sister-in-law and fmr brother-in-law, Phyllis and Joe Doyle; fmr sister-in-laws Marie Gatewood and Karen Burke; Uncle, Robert MacDonald (Eileen) and Aunt, Shirley MacDonald (decd. Colin) both of Buffalo, New York; former spouse and his wife, John F and Rossy Sanwald; and other cherished extended family and friends.

Visitation will be held 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at PORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH, 5:00 pm Vigil Prayer Service & Holy Rosary led by Deacon Denis Perez

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), ASPCA, and/or The Padre Pio Foundation of America.