Helen Mae Guggemos, of Lorena, Texas, and formerly of Hudson, died peacefully after a brief illness at Providence Hospital in Waco, Texas, surrounded by her four children, two of their spouses, two grandchildren, and brother and spouse on Saturday, February 19.
She was born in Hudson on July 1, 1924 to Lyle H and Irma R (Cole) Udell. She attended grade school and high school in Hudson, graduating in 1942. She then attended Abbott Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis, graduating in 1945 as an RN. She married her high school sweetheart, Ralph B. Guggemos, on September 29, 1945 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Their marriage lasted over fifty years until his death in 1995.
While in Hudson, Helen worked as office manager and bookkeeper from 1955 through 1969 for Guggemos Construction Company, a local company that did large road building projects throughout the Midwest. She later worked as a nurse (RN) at the Stillwater State Prison from 1967 through 1971. When the couple’s children had grown, they relocated to Waco, Texas and owned and operated motels and rental properties. They also raised cattle on their Lorena, Texas property. Helen’s other interests included reading, gardening, movies, handgun marksmanship, traveling, and flying in private airplanes owned by her husband. She was a talented pianist and seamstress and enjoyed visiting the homes of her children and grandchildren for family reunions. She will be remembered by her family and those who knew her as an astute and common sense business person but more importantly for her gentle nature, generosity, and her devotion to family and friends.
Surviving are; two sons, David (Sharlene) Guggemos of Kingwood, Texas, Stephen Guggemos of Hudson; two daughters, Joan Abbitt (Jim)of St. Peters, Missouri, and Jean Bingham (Barry) of Scottsdale, Arizona; a brother Roy L. Udell of China Springs, Texas; and a sister Joyce Davis (Lester) of Siren, Wisconsin; five grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.
Mass of Christian Burial was at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Hudson on Thursday, February 24 at 11:00am with Father Gene Murphy officiating. At the service the soloist was Deb O’Keefe, accompanied by Kari Weiss.
Burial was at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery following the service where casket bearers were Jim Abbitt, Barry Bingham, Gregory Richie, Jerome Brown, Scott Freitag, Darren Robey, Jack Kobler, Christian Garza, and Jacob Price. Honorary casket bearers were Roy L. Udell, Lester Davis, and Gene Stanke.
Visitation was on Wednesday, February 23 from 4 to 7pm at O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Hudson.