Helen Marthiljohni Kriz

Helen was born to Jacob and Eula Mae (Gilley) Marthiljohni on April 9, 1932 in Victoria, Texas. She grew up in Victoria, attended a one-room school house before high school at Nazareth Academy where she was Senior Class President. She attended Victoria Junior College and then worked at the DuPont plant in the Victoria area. She married First Lieutenant William Joseph Kriz of Foster AFB on October 6, 1956 – starting a life together as an Air Force family that took them to different locations in the U.S., Okinawa, and Germany, before settling in San Antonio, Texas in 1967.

Helen was a loving wife and mother, and she was a woman of deep and abiding faith. She was a life-member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She was an inspiration and great role model for her children and community. She often acted as a single mom during her husband’s frequent deployments.

Helen loved her husband, her five children, her six grandchildren, and her ten great-grandchildren. She enjoyed singing in the church choir, reading, gardening, baking, sewing, and cross-stitch.

She was active in the Air Force Officers’ Wives Club. She was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, and she was a frequent volunteer at St. Pius X Catholic School, which all of her children attended.

Helen was preceded in death by her father, brother (Robert), and mother.

Helen is survived by her husband of 69 years, Bill; her sister, Gloria Tusa; her children: Robert Kriz (Linda), Katherine Beifuss, Susan Kriz, Nancy Kriz (Constance), and Charles Kriz (Elizabeth); six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Visitation will take place at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at St. Pius X Catholic Church (3303 Urban Crest Dr., San Antonio, TX 78209). The Rosary will be recited at 11:30 AM, followed by the funeral Mass at 12:00 Noon. Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Reception to follow at Sunset Memorial Park and Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Helen’s memory to the St. Pius X Capital Campaign (https://spxsa.church/donate) or to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Victoria, Texas (https://stmvictoria.org/).