On June 5, 2024, Theresa Agatha Batto Helbert, 77, of Bandera, Texas, passed away peacefully, comforted by prayerful family and friends.
Theresa was born December 10, 1946 to Raymond and Agatha (Mazurek) Batto in Bandera, Texas. She left home to attend Texas Women’s College, where she met Robert “Bob” Helbert. Theresa and Bob married in 1968 in Bandera and began their family near Houston, Texas. They raised five children and were married for 27 years before Bob was called to Heaven. After Bob’s death, she moved from Angleton, Texas back to her hometown of Bandera, Texas.
Theresa was most proud of her family and worked to inspire a life of devotion based on the values of Catholicism to her children, Mary (Mark) Crouse, Kathleen Ring (Joey Ammann), Robert ( Dawn) Helbert, Nicholas “Nick” Helbert, and Charles “Chuck” Helbert. Theresa was grandmother to Stephanie Green (Nick), Tony Guevara (Kayla), Ryan Crouse, August Ring, Courtney Ammann, Calliejo Keller, Micheal Helbert, Taylor Helbert, Megan Rester (Zach), Tatum Kinsey, Corbyn Helbert, and great-grandchildren, Alexander Green, Silas Guevara, and Onesty Ammann. She is survived by brothers, John Henry Batto, Raymond Jr. (Elizabeth) Batto, Bernard Batto, and sisters, Elizabeth “Betty” (Rodger) Childs, Sr. Dorothy Batto, Shirley Pokorney, Barbara Moore (Thomas Jefferson), and Patricia “Patti” Conn. She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Helbert, parents, Raymond and Agatha Batto, and sisters, Margaret Mary and Mary Francis Batto.
Theresa dedicated her life to community service and volunteer work, especially in and around various parishes of the Catholic Church. She loved singing in the choir and leading the church in song, teaching religious education classes, working with the Altar Society, and being part of St. Vincent de Paul, even holding the position of President for a time. Her ministry also included baking and making many crafts for fundraising sales for various events, as well as visiting the sick, at home or in nursing homes, or driving them to appointments. She extended her volunteer work into the community by working at the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera and with local elections. Theresa was an avid blood donor, and in addition to giving gallons herself, coordinated blood drives to help increase participation. She loved genealogy and sharing the family’s history with others in the community. Theresa’s career also focused on community service as she worked for several municipalities, including the Cities of Angleton, Bandera, and Helotes.
A rosary will be held June 21, 2024 at 2pm, immediately followed by a funeral Mass and interment at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Bandera, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
