Helen Goerdel

Helen  Goerdel passed on to be with the Lord on November 21, 2022.  She was a resident of Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home.

Helen was born on February 11, 1954, in Dublin, Texas.  Her parents were Joanne Kuhlmann Goerdel and Lemund Edward Goerdel. She was a wonderful “big” sister to  Elizabeth, who was born in 1957. Her family moved several times in her early years, eventually moving to Woodway, Texas, where she attended Midway School and graduated in 1972.

She attended McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, before transferring to Texas Woman’s University in Denton.  Helen had long aspired to be a nurse. She stayed on campus in Denton until moving to Dallas to the dorms located in close proximity to Parkland Hospital. There she received intensive training and practical experience in the nursing field. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1976.

Following Helen’s graduation, she began her career at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas. She earned her license as a Registered Nurse. Although she worked in several departments at the hospital, her vocation was nursing in the Pediatrics Intensive Care Unit. These were “her children” and she devotedly cared for them.

Helen was also the official family nurse, offering knowledgeable advice and researching unusual issues. When her niece, Morgan, was born, she enjoyed visiting with her and was also a great source of baby, child, and health information for Elizabeth and her family.

After Scott & White, she worked in Hamilton, Texas, where she also cared for her parents who had health problems. After her parents passed away, Helen moved to Waco until she required full-time care. She was in nursing homes in Waco, Meridian, and Clifton for the remainder of her life.  Her last home was in Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home where she received excellent care. Her family is very grateful for her time there.

Helen loved music, reading, puzzles, and traveling. She loved going places and had an amazing memory for directions to any number of places.

Helen Goerdel was predeceased by her parents, Lemund and Joanne Goerdel.; her grandparents; and some of her aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She is survived by her sister, Elizabeth Beasley; her brother-in-law, Ernest Beasley III; her niece, Morgan Beasley; and aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A memorial gathering for Helen Goerdel will be held on Saturday, February 25, at 11 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Pottsville, Texas. Family and friends are asked to gather in the basement of the Sunday School and honor her memory.  Casual dress is encouraged. Her favorite colors were greens and blues, although any color is welcome.

Memorial donations may be made to Lutheran Sunset Ministries, PO Box 71, Clifton, TX 76634.