Helen K. Hauser

Helen Frances Kreuder Hauser, 93, passed away peacefully at her home and was received into the loving arms of her Savior on May 7, 2012. “Aunt Tiner” as she was known to her family and friends in Austin was a beautiful, vivacious, witty, delightful woman who charmed everyone who had the pleasure of meeting her.

Helen was born to George L. and Mertie May Kreuder on September 16, 1918 in Douglas, Arizona where her father, one of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders was stationed. Soon he was reassigned to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio and the family welcomed Helen‘s only sibling, Gladys. Helen graduated from Jefferson High School and went to work at Kelly Field then transferred to the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi. Her outer beauty shone as she was selected to represent Texas in the National Miss Victory of America pageant. In 1945 she married Ernest Lee Hauser and settled in Houston. Unable to have children they were blessed to adopt their son Steven in l952 and daughter Katherine in l954 from the Methodist Mission Home in San Antonio. Only eight years later, Lee died unexpectedly and she began her lifetime role as a single parent. She was always very active in her church and community – teaching Sunday School, nursing home bible studies, and vacation bible schools – wherever the Lord led her to serve. Recognizing her love for God and service, Willow Meadows Baptist Church named her one of the first and few Baptist Deaconesses.

In the early 1960s, Helen was one of the original supporters of The Women’s Home in Houston – a residential facility established to help women in crisis. In 2007 she was recognized for her work on the Home’s behalf. At age 55 she started a career by enrolling in the first Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) training program at Houston Community College. Although she was the oldest in her class, she received the highest honors. Through all her activities she made lasting friendships as her inner beauty and servant’s heart shone.

In 1992 Helen moved from Houston to a home in Pearland, Texas where she soon became active in Fellowship Bible Church, greeting visitors every Sunday morning with her smile and “sparkly” outfits. As her health deteriorated, she moved to Austin in 2005 to live with her niece, Pat Crutsinger, who as a child had christened her “Aunt Tiner”, and Pat’s husband Harold. For many years of her life almost everyone she met used that term of endearment – many not even knowing her real name! Aunt Tiner joined Hyde Park Baptist Church where for the first time in her life she was not actively serving, but she loved the pastoral staff and many friends she made there.

Helen loved her Lord, she loved her family, and her beautiful smile and loving heart will be greatly missed by all. She is survived by her son Steve and his wife Marsha of San Antonio, her daughter Katherine (“Sis”) of Ft. Worth, her niece Pat Crutsinger, her great nephew Randy Crutsinger and wife Jenn, and great niece Lisa Crutsinger and children Kale, Katelyn and Daniel, all of Austin. She is also survived by her nephew Tim Howell and wife Cheryl and great nephew Tim Howell and wife Mel, all of San Antonio. She will be missed by her caregivers Sajhresa Hill, Deborah Moore, Karrie Kendall and Pam Clopton. The family’s affection and appreciation is extended to Dr. Laura Guerrero, Dr. Michael Grad and the staff of Heart to Heart Hospice.

A visitation will be held at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home on Anderson Hill Road. in Austin, Tx. on Thursday, May 10, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and the Funeral Service will be on Friday, May 11, at 2:00 p.m. also at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston, Tx. on Saturday, May 12, at 2:00 p.m. The family requests donations to Methodist Mission Home, 6487 Whitby Rd., San Antonio, Tx. 78240 (www.mmhome.org); The Women’s Home, 607 Westheimer, Houston, Tx. 77006 (www.thewomenshome.org); Heart to Heart Hospice, 4029 Capital of Texas Hwy, Ste. 120, Austin, Tx. 78704; or Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn., 1 Billy Graham Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28201.