Helen O. Dittrich

Helen O. Dittrich of Weimar passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. She was 92 years, 11 months and 15 days old. She was a resident at Schulenburg Regency Nursing Center.

Helen was the daughter of Frank Filip and Agnes Schramek Filip. She was born in Moravia on Feb. 12, 1928. She was the “baby” of the family, having three older brothers, Jerome, Alphonse and Leo, and one older sister, Edith. She met Elgin Dittrich while attending high school in St. John; they were married in Moravia at Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church on Nov. 24, 1947. They began married life on the farm in St. John where they raised three children, Barbara, Vernon and Norbert. Much later she and Elgin moved to Weimar so he would be closer to his job at M-G. They were married 43 years before death took him from her.

Helen was a devout Catholic and a member of St Michael Catholic Church in Weimar. For many years, with loving care, she prepared the altar for weekday Mass, cleaning, starching and ironing the altar linens. She led the daily rosary before Mass until she moved to Schulenburg Regency Nursing Center. She was a life member of the Catholic Daughters of America and a 75+ year member of the KJZT (Moravia).

First and foremost, Helen was a true “homemaker.” Her family was simply her life. She was an excellent seamstress; she was known to make the best bakery rolls and pigs-in-a-blanket. She was an artist; her drawings were remarkable. She enjoyed playing the keyboard and harmonica. She loved animals of all kinds but her heart truly belonged to “Tinka,” an orange tabby that resided with her for over 22 years. Tinka accompanied Helen and Elgin on many a trip to Rockport where they both loved to fish for speckled trout. Helen loved gardening. She loved flowers, grew and cultivated African Violets but had a special love of roses. She never met a plant that refused to grow for her.

She is survived by her three children, Barbara Brandes and husband Clarence of Rosenberg, Vernon J. Dittrich and wife Connie of St. John, and Norbert Dittrich and wife Rebecca of Houston; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Agnes Schramek Filip; husband, Elgin Dittrich; great-granddaughter Allison Dittrich; brothers, Jerome, Alphonse and Leo Filip; and sister, Edith Filip Hafer.

“Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure…You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure…” Author unknown

Private funeral and burial services with immediate family were slated at St. Michael Catholic Church in Weimar on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 and officiated by Rev. Wayne Flagg.

The family requests donations be made to St. Michael Catholic Church in Weimar.