Mary Helen (Guerra) Singleton

Wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother. Homemaker, launderer, seamstress, short-order cook. Storyteller, innovator, advocate, mentor, confidant, lecturer, coach. Champion for others, creator of dreams and imagination, hero-extraordinaire, Hell-en-on-Wheels.

In the early morning hours of February 9, 2023, Helen passed away of natural causes at Northeast Baptist Hospital having led a long and love-filled life, punctuated by family, friends, travel and events. She had just reached her 98th birthday that week.

Helen was born on February 6, 1925, in San Antonio, Texas, and was the daughter of Narciso and Mercedes (Martinez) Guerra. She was the only child of Mercedes. However, she had three, older, half-siblings from Narciso’s prior marriage (whose first wife died in childbirth). Helen was also the niece of well-known San Antonio funeral director and mortuary owner Max Martinez.

Along with her father, mother and siblings, Helen spent her early years working as part of a small, family-owned grocery store and gas station located on south New Braunfels Avenue. With teamwork, tenacity, and resilience they survived the depression and later years in a financially challenged and diverse neighborhood. Instead of a tank of live lobsters, the store had “Guerra’s Chicken Bowl”. There, customers could select a live chicken which could be butchered by Helen’s brother in the store’s butcher shop.

With a family motto, “Education is one thing they cannot take away from you”, Helen graduated from Saint Gerard High School in 1942 and subsequently attended Incarnate Word College.

In 1950, Helen married her husband and life-long partner, Ray Singleton Sr. With Karma being ever vigilant, Hell-on-Wheels Helen spent her early married years raising three challenging, children/teenagers/adults. Upon liberation and receiving a conditional parole, Helen and Ray became Weight Watcher lecturers, carwash owners, real estate investors, travel/adventure partners and, not surprisingly, proud parents and grandparents. They especially enjoyed numerous trips to Las Vegas with business partners and family members.

Above all, the epitome of Helen and Ray’s adventure was their role as grandparents. With seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren their life was busy, full, and engaged. Birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries were always a time for family get-togethers and celebrations. A special occasion was the celebration of their 60th anniversary when they hosted a party with extended family and friends.

Helen was preceded in death by her father, Narciso, her mother, Mercedes, her husband, Ray Singleton Sr., her daughter, Sharon Calvert, her granddaughter, Tracy Moffett and all of her half-brothers and sisters, Amy Martinez, Artie Guerra, and Tommy Guerra. She is survived by her two sons, Ray Singleton Jr. (Linda) and Harold Singleton (Jenny), her six other grandchildren, Mary Anne Jones, Thomas Moffett, David Singleton, Rebecca Powell, Rachel Singleton, James Singleton and great grandchildren Matthew, Haylie, Abigayle, and William along with several nieces and nephews.

A visitation for Helen will be held Sunday, February 26, 2023, at 4:00 PM at Sunset Funeral Home, followed by a rosary at 5:00 PM. A Celebration of Life and funeral service will start at 5:30 PM. Sunset Funeral Home is located at 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio, Texas 78218. A committal service will occur Monday, February 27, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd., San Antonio, Texas 78219. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity in honor and memory of Helen.