Funeral mass for Helen Jane Arnecke, age 83, of Sulphur Springs, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 18, 2021, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Yorktown, Texas. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.
Helen passed away on Monday, September 13, 2021, at Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs, Texas. She was born on April 27, 1938, in Dewitt County near Nordheim, Texas, the daughter of Frank and Nettie Respondek. She married Elmer Arnecke on November 23, 1957, in Yorktown, Texas.
Helen served in both the Alter Society and as a Eucharistic Minister at Saint Peters Prince of the Apostles Catholic Church in Corpus Christi, Texas, for many years. She worked briefly for Nueces County Agriculture Extension Service, then, retired from Farmers Home Administration after many years of service.
She was a talented seamstress and sewed clothing for her children and baby blankets for her grandchildren. Helen’s love of Christmas will be forever memorialized in the beautiful handmade ornaments that she gifted her children and grandchildren at each Arnecke Christmas.
She is survived by sons, Bryan Arnecke of Ft. Worth, Texas, Dr. Darren Arnecke of Sulphur Springs, William Arnecke of Austin, Texas, daughters, Dr. Bernadette Arnecke of Phoenix, Arizona, Stephanie Murdock of Spring, Texas, Beverly Rowe of Brookfield, CT, Christine Westby of Houston, Texas; 15 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; brothers, Daniel Respondek, John Henry Respondek, and Jimmy Respondek; and sisters, Martha Lynn Guthrie, Monetta Burns, and JoAnne Zamzoe.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brother, Frank Respondek; and sons-in-law, Tim Westby and Llew Rowe.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Peters Prince of the Apostles Catholic Church, 3901 Violet Road, Corpus Christi, TX 78410; or https://www.osvhub.com/st-peter-prince/funds.
Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home.
