Helen shared 47 wonderful years with her beloved husband, Jim. Together, they enjoyed traveling and playing bridge with friends and relatives. Her competitive spirit was also evident in her love of Mahjong and bowling.
For many summers, Helen and Jim took their boat to Elephant Butte Lake, where family and friends joined them for fishing and water skiing. Helen loved preparing dinners for holidays and special occasions, and her gatherings were always a special treat.
One of Helen’s favorite journeys was a two-week family trip to Tokyo, Japan, to visit her father, a Shinto priest, for his 103rd birthday. Because Helen had grown up in Japan, sharing the country through her experiences made the trip especially meaningful for everyone.
Helen is survived by her beloved husband, Jim; her daughters, Betsy Lovato (Ed) and Victoria Goldman (Michael); her granddaughter, Elaine Lovato (Matt); her grandsons, Tony Magana (Leonor) and Edward Lovato (Jessica); her great-granddaughters, Mila, Jackie, and Michelle; her great-grandsons, Andre and David; and her sisters, Beni Beres and Fumi Powell. She is also survived by Jim’s family—Jim Griffith Jr., Carol Krohn, and Alan Kirk—as well as six grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Thursday October 29, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM with a prayer service at 12:30 PM at Martin Funeral Home, located at 128 N Resler Dr, El Paso, Texas. Interment will follow at 2:30 PM at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson Ave, El Paso, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Helen’s name to Hospice of El Paso.
