Helen Thornell Hoppess

Helen was born on the 15th of June 1939 in Port Arthur, Texas, and was the second of two daughters of Ralph Thornell and Herma Roth. She attended school in Beaumont, Texas, and in 1957, she graduated from French High School.

She is survived by her husband, Karl; her daughters, Debra Lynn Hebert and husband Troy, Diana Lea Lovett, Denise Rae Fregoelle-Burk and partner Christine; and by her sons, Graham Hoppess and wife Denise, and Thor Hoppess and wife Monique. Helen is also survived by her eight grandchildren, whom she spoiled with love and adoration, Jennifer Lovett, Ryan Newman and wife Christina, Rachel Newman Ayers and husband Jeremy, Kara Burk Roberts and husband Michael, Hagan Hoppess, Madison Hoppess, Reece George, and Thomas Walker Hoppess. Her two sisters, Herma Robinson and husband Kenneth, and Karen Ross and husband Jim; as well as her brother, Ralph David Thornell and wife Paula, also survive her.

Helen had a sense of family and community obligation that she remained committed to until the ravages of the disease overcame her. She will be remembered by her family and friends as a lady of southern grace and beauty, who openly acknowledged and accepted each blessing and each adversity given to her.

As she slipped away from us over the past eight years, she expressed gratitude to her friends and employers for the opportunities she had been given in life. She was always thankful of her employment as a legal secretary at Cox, Evans, Packinham & Roady, and at Dyche and Wright. After graduation from Houston Community College, she delighted in her position at Gulf Coast Bank. She cherished moments of service that the Houston and Kerrville members of The March of Dimes, the Houston Child Advocates (CASA), the Kerrville, Texas’ Kids Advocacy Place and the Garden Clubs of Hearthstone and Crestwood gave her to serve as a either a participating court advocate for children, an officer for the organization, or a as board member. Helen was always actively involved, both by service and financial efforts in these charities.

Besides her family, Helen’s passions in life were the piano, her photography of children, and the development of parks, gardens, and unlimited beds of flowers.

Helen was a rare person of gratitude, joy, compassion and tremendous tenderness.

For their dedicated and professional care provided to Helen, the family desires to acknowledge and express their heartfelt gratitude to the Melba Altamirano family, the associates at The Forum, and to the nurses at Houston Hospice.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 7th of September, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A funeral service is to be conducted at half-past ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 8th of September, in the sanctuary of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road in Houston, where Dr. Tom Pace, Senior Pastor, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Hines Baker Room.

A sunset interment service is to be conducted at half-past six o’clock in the evening, also on Saturday, at the Coulter and Hoppess burial estate within the Bryan City Cemetery, 1111 North Texas Avenue in Bryan, Texas, where Rev. Jerry House, Senior Pastor at Christ United Methodist Church of College Station, is to officiate. Following the interment, all are invited to gather with the family during a catered reception at a venue to be announced at the service.

Honored to serve as casket bearers during Saturday's services are Barton Cromeens, Terry Forrester, Richard Hood, Graham Hoppess, Thor Hoppess, James McCullough, Joe Maida, and Harvey Zinn. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Eddie Marx and Roy Moore.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Helen’s memory may be directed to the Hill Country Crisis Council, Inc. (formerly the Kids Advocacy Place/KAP), P. O. Box 291817, Kerrville, TX, 78729; or to the charity of one’s choice.

“And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Ps 23:6