Our loving mother, Helen S. Custer, passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord on the evening of April 10th, 2014 in her 100th year. She will join our dearest father, Theodore Hart Custer, who died on April 13th, 1983, after sharing forty-seven years of marriage. Also preceding her in death was her eldest daughter June S. Lenhart and her husband William S. Lenhart, her daughter-in-law Remedios C. Custer, her son-in-law Jerry Ranum, and her granddaughter Helen C. Sampana and husband Ernesto Sampana.
Helen Custer was a devoted wife and mother who displayed acts of heroism and kindness, especially during the family's captivity in the Philippines during WWII. She and her husband's philanthropic acts included rebuilding homes, a chapel near Clark Air Force Base, rescuing villagers, and providing food and shelter. Her dream to become a school teacher was realized when she completed her degree from Southwest Texas State University and went on to teach elementary students in the San Antonio Independent School District for over ten years. She was a favorite of her principal, her student teachers and students.
She enjoyed being the matriarch of five generations of her family. She is survived by her children: Edward Custer and his wife Emilia, Evelyn Ranum, Caroline Custer and Elaine Wedgeworth and her husband Michael. She adored her grandchildren: Robert Lenhart and wife Paula, Susan Lopez and husband Gerald, Carl Lenhart and wife Lennette, Edward Custer Jr. and wife Donna, Mary Zamiri and husband Mehdi, Belinda Eller, Malinda Azua and husband Juan, David Custer, Michael Custer, Brenda Sielski and husband Richard, Catherine Ranum, Elizabeth Lorenc and husband Chris, Helene Freymann, Larisa Allen and husband John, Michael Wedgeworth Jr. and wife Shonda, and James Wedgeworth and wife Caryn. She is also survived by 31 great grandchildren and 13 great great grandchildren.
Services will be held Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at Santo Nino Catholic Church, 5655 US Highway 87 East, Rigsby, San Antonio, TX 78222, with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. Rosary begins at 10:30 a.m. followed with a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Graveside services will be conducted on Thursday, April 17, 2014 at 2:30 p.m., at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78209. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the American Heart Association in her memory.
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