Helga Mayo

Helga Martha Elise Schmidt Mayo passed away peacefully on July 11, 2025, at the age of 90 in San Antonio, Texas. Born May 14, 1935, in Hamburg, Germany, she was the daughter of Walter and Lona Schmidt. Helga brought joy and love to all who knew her through her adventurous, kind, loving, and devoted personality.

Helga was known for her love of life. She grew up in World War II Germany and moved with her parents and sister to Wolfsburg, Germany when Hamburg was bombed. As a young adult, she moved to England where she worked on a country estate. The owner of the estate (Mrs. Drury) became a lifelong friend of Helga’s, and they kept in touch by exchanging letters, Christmas cards, and visits back to England. Looking for more adventure, Helga placed an ad in several newspapers in the United States looking for a job as a nanny. The ad was answered by a doctor and his wife who brought Helga to San Antonio, TX to care for their three children. Setting sail from Bremerhaven, Germany on November 16, 1959, onboard the ocean liner TS Bremen, she arrived in the United States for what was supposed to be a temporary job for two years with a planned return to Germany. Fate stepped in and she met the love of her life, Ollie K Mayo. They were married on April 28, 1962, and were together until Ollie's passing in 2010. Helga and Ollie loved to travel and went all over the world together. She devoted her life to her family and especially loved the role of being an “Oma” to her grandchildren.

Helga was a beloved member of her community dedicating more than 15,500 hours over the years as a volunteer at Santa Rosa Hospital Downtown, where she touched the lives of many with her compassion and dedication. Her commitment to helping others was a testament to her character. She especially enjoyed being with the children who were patients at the hospital. Many of them, along with their families, became friends who she stayed in touch long after they left the hospital.

She was a devout member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church where she was a member of the Altar Society.

Helga was preceded in death by her loving husband, Ollie, and her parents. She is survived by her daughter, Christina (Randy); son, Patrick; grandchildren, Amanda (Chris), Bettina (Robert), Ryan (Jessica); two great-grandchildren; her sister, Margot; and numerous other family members who will miss her deeply.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations may be made to Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital.

A Rosary will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 28, 2025, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 223 E. Summit Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212 with a Funeral Mass at 11:00am.

Burial will follow at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Helga's life and legacy will be remembered fondly by all who knew her, and her spirit will continue to inspire those she has left behind.