Helen Dorothy Kopczynski Antonelli

Helen was preceded in death by her loving husband, John H. Antonelli, her parents, Walter and Sadia Kopczynski, and her sister Frances Jerome. She is survived by and will be missed by many extended family members, especially her beloved niece, Claudia.

First and foremost, Helen loved the Lord. She practiced her Catholic faith with abundant joy, and she fostered many relationships around her faith family. Her faith also called her to live a remarkable life of service, and she answered the call without hesitation. Helen eagerly awaited the day when our Lord would call her to Him, to rejoice with the saints and angels.

Helen served her country as an Air Force nurse, which included time as a flight nurse in Vietnam. She was a decorated colonel, retiring with a Meritorious Service Medal. She looked back on her time in the service as some of the most rewarding days of her life. Countless are the people who received her loving care.

Helen was known for the devoted attention she gave her friends her entire life. She remembered a myriad of people with birthday and holiday cards and generous gifts. If you became part of her world, she did not forget you. She had a special fondness for men and women in religious life, and she never stopped offering her prayers and support of their vocations. Time stole so many of her family and friends, as it will when you live almost a century, but she never stopped making new friends. Her sense of humor made time spent with her a treat, and she kept us laughing to the end. She loved us all fiercely, and we will never forget her.

A visitation in memory of Helen will be held on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Czestochowa, 138 Beethoven St., San Antonio, Texas. A rosary will be prayed at 8:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 9:00 a.m., also at Our Lady of Czestochowa. A small reception will take place immediately following the Mass.

After the Mass, Helen will be laid to rest at 12:00 p.m. at Panna Maria Cemetery in Hobson, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Seraphic Sisters at 138 Beethoven St, San Antonio, TX 78210.

Helen will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing her. May she rest in peace.