Helen Ruth Keppler Gorrondona Thibodeaux

She is survived by her loving husband Devron Thibodeaux, sister Mary Virginia “Ginger” Keppler, and brother Frederick “Fritz” (Earl) Keppler, her cherished children Danika Gorrondona, Morla Gorrondona, and Thane (Maria) Gorrondona, and her step-children, Therese (James) Stuckey, Elizabeth Thibodeaux, Angelle Thibodeaux, and Paul (Minette) Thibodeaux, and grandchildren, Kohler Lipson, McKenzie McCloskey, Christopher Gorrondona, Andrea Gorrondona, Natalia (James Samuel) Gorrondona, Matteo Gorrondona, Sarah (Brandon) Montalbano, Rachel Stuckey, and Matthew Stuckey, and five great-grandchildren. Helen Ruth is predeceased by her beloved first husband Donald Gorrondona and her parents Lloyd Keppler and Helen Kohler Keppler.

A graduate of Holy Angels Academy, St. Mary’s Dominican College, and Loyola University Institute of Ministry where she achieved a master’s degree in Theology. She was a life-long teacher of both physical education and religion: a reflection of her appreciation of the cultivation of both body and soul. She began and ended her teaching career in her spiritual home of New Orleans - starting with St. James Major School, continuing to St. Joseph’s Academy, and retiring from Archbishop Chapelle High School as head of the religion department. She is past-president of the St. Mary’s Dominican College Alumnae Association, and a member and past-president of the Pickens Garden Club.

Helen Ruth loved art, music, culture and traveling to new places. She loved gardening, especially saving distressed plants. She was a canny bargain-hunter and self-published author of the book, “New Orleans, a Shopper’s Notebook”. She had a sense of adventure and enthusiasm for traveling to new places which was tested by hurricane Katrina. Having lived in New Orleans her entire life, she packed up and, with her beloved mother Nana, joined Devron as he began his new position at the research station at Clemson and she did so with optimism, courage and an open heart. Certainly, despite the long distances between her and her children Helen Ruth remained a constant and loving mother.

Through every struggle and especially her last, Helen Ruth’s prayer was for God to grant her courage and strength. She truly was the embodiment of these virtues at remarkable degrees throughout her illness. In all of this she remained kind, welcoming, giving, and graceful – a true beautiful Southern Lady.

All are invited for Visitation followed by Mass on Saturday, March 8 beginning at 10:00 a.m. to be held at St. Andrews Chapel located at the corner of Edgewood Ave. and Sloan St. in Clemson.

We so appreciate the tireless dedication to the care and support Helen Ruth received from Dr. Jeff Edenfield and his staff of the Prisma Cancer Institute as she struggled all those years to control the cancer. They have truly become our family. We also want to thank the Hospice of the Foothills staff who graciously and generously assisted in her care in the final weeks of her life. The family would like to thank Debbie Lessard especially for her continued support for Helen Ruth’s struggle with cancer for the past ten plus years.

A memorial service for Helen Ruth is planned in her hometown of New Orleans. Our intent is for it to take place on her birthday, April 11. Details will be available soon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to any of the following: the Marianites of Holy Cross Congregational Center at 75520 Hwy 1081, Covington, Louisiana, 70435; Hospice of the Foothills, 390 Keowee School Rd., Seneca, SC 29672; or St. Andrews Catholic Church, 209 Sloan St., Clemson, SC 29631.

Thank you for your remembrance.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com. Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.