Helen Joan Ridge

Helen’s family come over to the states from Austria on a boat and upon arriving to the states chose to raise their family in Johnstown Pennsylvania. Helen completed the 10th grade in the public school system and soon thereafter went to work for the government during the war.

She continued to work for the government until she met her husband, Steve Hase, who was serving in the U.S. Navy. They married in 1945 and moved to Corpus Christi, Texas where he was stationed in the Navy. They had four children, Stephanie, Sandra, Carolyn and Gordon. Their marriage ended after 19 years, but Helen continued to raise her family in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Helen found work in the food industry as a waitress for Ship Ahoy on the Bay. She said she loved her job and meeting so many different people. She eventually had her sister Dorothy and niece Karen come to live with her from Pennsylvania. She made Corpus Christi home for all.

She later remarried and eventually changed her roll in life to be a housewife and mother. She continued to be the rock of the family.

There is no doubt she has always been the rock of the family and has been there for all of her family in one way or another. She loved each one of her children as she always said “the same, but differently.” She loved each one unconditionally and each in her own special way. She used to joke and say her kids did no wrong. She may have actually believed it because she was always in their corner! HaHa!

Helen has always known the Lord and was raised from a little girl praising the Lord to raising her family with the love of God. She went to church on Sundays, when she could with her daughter Sandra, and loved to be with her church family praising God. She treasured her church family and talked of them always with a sparkle in her eye. When she talked about her church family, you could see the love in her eyes that she had for each one. She loved, loved, loved the compliments and would talk about them for days! She also would love to talk about how she is a second mother to some at the church and that made her so happy.

She was with her family every day and surrounded with those who loved and cared for her. Sunday morning she was where she wanted to be, worshiping God.

She has always been tough and has made it through so much. Recently, she has been reading the book, Heaven is for Real. She recently said she wonders what heaven is going to be like and sometimes is ready to see it.

Helen/Mum had many roles in life and loved them all; a daughter, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister, friend and wife. Most importantly she loved being a child of God and a Christian. She lived a full life and was a wonderful mother and will be missed dearly.

Arrangements under the direction of Memory Gardens Funeral Home, Corpus Christi, TX.