Helen Marie Bagnall

Helen Marie Bagnall (nee Madden) of Lewisville, Texas passed away on May 6, 2026, at the age of 96. Born on November 1, 1929, in Titusville, PA, she was the daughter of Lawrence Henry Madden Sr. and Helen Margaret Madden (nee Coady). She spent her early years attending school at St. Joseph Academy in Titusville, PA.

Mom worked as a bank teller in Tucson prior to marrying Michael Francis Bagnall. She then became a housewife, helping to rear four children. She returned to work in the mid-80’s, working in an automobile insurance agency in Tucson. Here she provided insurance quotes on all makes and models of automobiles and became knowledgeable of engines and other essential automobile components…which is remarkable considering Mom never learned how to drive a car! Her (and OUR) fondest memory of her working at the automobile insurance agency was when she received a call from a customer requesting an insurance quote. Her desk phone rang with the call routed from the operator, and as Mom moved to answer the phone, her gaze locked on the HOLD button. When she answered the phone to take the call, she kept looking at the HOLD button and said to the young man on the other end: “This is Helen, can I hold you?” She meant to say “help”. Her fellow insurance quoters sitting close by all heard her ask that, and it resulted in many laughs, especially for those who were on their own calls and who had to stifle their laughter to continue their professional demeanor.

Mom LOVED Notre Dame Football and would eagerly await the start of the college football season so she could cheer on the Irish! She proudly wore her Notre Dame sweatshirt on game day and would yell at the TV when the Irish would either pull a trick play or miss a field goal. She also followed Arizona Wildcat basketball and was an avid viewer of the team as they participated in the annual championship games.

Mom loved doing crossword puzzles and had a very well-worn crossword puzzle dictionary as proof! She enjoyed reading mystery novels, particularly anything from Nora Roberts and Mary Higgins Clark. She kept up to date with all the world’s activities via her Amazon tablet. She became somewhat proficient in sending instant messages and would add her comments (which were not intentionally humorous but ended up being that way) to anything anyone posted to her. She enjoyed listening to the Platters singing group, Roy Orbison, ABBA, and loved Strauss waltzes, particularly “The Blue Danube”. She attended the Dallas Symphony last New Year’s Eve and got to hear it and other orchestral favorites performed. She and Dad adopted a German Shepherd Dog while they were still in Tucson, as Dad loved German Shepherds and always wanted one when he was a kid. They named her Schatzi and she was with Mom after Dad died in 2010. A few years after Mom lost Schatzi, she adopted another dog from a rescue in Flower Mound and gave her the very Irish name of Fiona.

She and Dad celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 17, 2009. She and Dad visited their family’s ancestral home of Ireland in the mid-1990s, and Mom accomplished a long sought-after goal of visiting Hawaii and seeing the Black Sands of Maui in 2015.

Our mom went by the nickname 'Honey" since she was a baby, known either as Aunt Honey or just Honey, but some may not be aware of how she earned that nickname. Mom was the youngest of four children, and her birth name was Helen Marie. Her sister Anne, who was about two to three years older, as a child tried to say Mom's name but the closest approximation she could speak was "Honey Ree". The nickname "Honey" stuck, so ever since Mom has been affectionately known by family and friends as "Honey".

Mom lived to the incredible age of 96, and experienced many events along the way, from the Great Depression, World War II, moving from her childhood home of Titusville, PA to Tucson, AZ with her family, rearing four children and celebrating her 50th wedding anniversary. Mom was a good listener and would give sound advice on a variety of topics but would always remind us of how proud she was of us and all that we’ve accomplished. What she wanted for us kids most of all was for us to be happy. She was a constant cheerleader and encouraged us to aspire to bigger and better things, always there to give advice when needed, or to listen without judgment when we just needed to vent. Mom left an indelible impression on all who knew her. She was loved by all and will be greatly missed.

Survived by children Barbara Phillips and husband Randy of Flower Mound, TX; Jane Vaca of Flower Mound, TX; Margaret Obregon of Flower Mound, TX; Matthew Bagnall of Annandale, VA; grandchildren Michael Phillips and his wife April of Houston, TX; Jeffrey Phillips and his wife Heather of Mesa, AZ; Kevin Phillips of Flower Mound, TX; Madeleine Williamson and her husband Nick of Dallas, TX; Christopher and Jenna Laukoter of Flower Mound, TX; Alexander and Isabel Obregon of Flower Mound, TX; great grandchildren Declan and Autumn Phillips of Houston, TX; Oliver and Finnegan Phillips of Mesa, AZ.; numerous nieces and nephews; and cousins Ann Jaffe of Corry, PA ; Rosemary Hill of Corry, PA, and Robert Madden of Titusville, PA.

Preceded in death by Michael Francis Bagnall. They married in Tucson, AZ on October 17, 1959, and lived in Tucson until 2008, when they moved to Lewisville, TX to be closer to their grown children and young grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Humane Tomorrow of Flower Mound, TX at the following Web site: Humanetomorrow.org. The information below is from their Web site:

Humane Tomorrow is a non-profit, volunteer-based 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1997 by a group of experienced animal welfare rescuers and advocates who work with local animal services agencies to place hundreds of animals each year.

Humane Tomorrow has a team of dedicated staff, volunteers, and supporters who make it possible for us to provide numerous services to our North Texas community.

• Adoptions

• Low-cost spay/neuter program

• Assistance with veterinary costs and pet deposits

• Community education

• Animal advocacy

A Celebration of Life will be held at J.E. Foust & Son Funeral Directors, 523 S MAIN ST, GRAPEVINE, TX 76051, US, on June 20, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, followed by a Reception at the same location on June 20, 2026, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.