Helen Ann Ostby died peacefully at home on August 3, 2018 following a life that spanned ninety two years. She was born in Baraboo, Wisconsin on October 21, 1925 to William and Mayme Fardy. She was the oldest of three children and grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. She attended the University of Wisconsin where she met the love of her life. She married Wallace Ostby in 1945 and they remained devoted to each other until his death in 1990. Together they raised six children and spent over thirty years as a military family travelling the world. Wherever they moved, Helen made it a warm home for the family. It also instilled a love of travel in all their children. They fell in love with San Antonio and made it their permanent home in 1976.
Helen was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church since moving to San Antonio. She was very active in the Blessed Sacrament Circle for over thirty years. In addition, she took Eucharist to the nursing home residents and other homebound parishioners. She was very devoted to the Catholic Church and was a faithful servant of God.
Helen’s health began deteriorating five years ago and she was only given a few weeks to live. The Good Lord was not ready for her yet and the family was blessed with additional time with their beloved mother and Gummy. She was loved very much by her surviving four daughters, her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Colonel (Ret) Wallace L. Ostby, her daughter Donna Elizabeth Kelley, and her son Paul William Ostby. She is survived by her sister Mary Alice Anacker, her brother William Fardy and his wife Micki, daughters Karen Gonsoulin and her husband Armand, Martha Jackson and her husband Jim, Nancy Bradford, and Barbara Jackson. She is also survived by grandchildren Jennifer Wade-Champagne, Jamie Dennis-Jackson (Aaron), John Gonsoulin (Amy), Jennifer Childress (Nathan), Dawn League (T.J.), Kristen Jackson (Stefan), Adam Jackson (Kristie), Jessica Blagg (Shane), Douglas Bradford (Bri), Katie Bradford, Lindsay Kelley, Travis Jackson and Bailey Jackson. Her family continued to grow and she is also survived by thirteen great grandchildren including Jordan, Kaitlyn, Brooke, Patrick, Phillip, Carlee, Vivian, Charlotte, Katherine, Hazel, Henry, Cora, and Grayson.
The family is very grateful to the care Helen received from Heart to Heart Hospice, particularly her nurse Erica Schaefer as well as from her loving caretaker Annabella Pina.
Visitation will be held at Sunset Memorial Park and Funeral Home at 1701 Austin Highway at 6 PM on Sunday, August 19 with rosary following at 7 PM. The funeral Mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 8134 Blanco Road at 10 AM on Monday, August 20 with a reception and luncheon following at the church. Interment will be at Fort Sam National Cemetery and will be private for the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. PJ’s Children’s Home at 919 Mission Road, San Antonio, Texas 78210 or to the charity of your choice.
