Mark Helona, 57 of China Spring, passed away Saturday, November 17, 2018.
Visitation: 11am Wednesday, November 21 at St. Louis Catholic Church.
Funeral Mass: 12:00pm Wednesday, November 21 at St. Louis Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Saint Mary’s Cemetery in West.
Mark Helona,57, passed away at St. Catherine Center with family present on November 17, 2018 after his 18-year courageous and dignified battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Mark was born June 2, 1961, in Waco, Texas, the son of Pat (Hykel) Helona and the late Raymond Helona.
Mark was a graduate of China Spring High School and attended MCC. He enjoyed outdoor sports, primarily hunting and fishing. Mark worked at General Tire, Blue Bell Creameries and as a crew supervisor for Total Restoration. He was a firearms instructor and a Little League softball coach. One award that he was especially proud of was being on the 1978 China Spring state championship football team. He loved his family and friends, in addition to his new-found friends at St. Catherine’s in Waco.
Mark was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Helona; grandparents, Lucille and Jimmie Hykel and Mary and Frank Helona; and infant grandson, Leighton Brantner.
Survivors include his mother, Pat of China Spring; daughters, Fallon Brantner and spouse Kyle, Hillary Helona, and Shelby Helona all of Waco; brother, Brian Helona of China Spring; sister, Ann Popp and spouse Bruce of Waco; and grandchildren, Mikaela, Michael, Kyler, Amity and Seiver.
Mark was a lifelong member of St. Louis Catholic Church. He was proud to say he was one of the first altar boys when the parish started under his namesake, Msg. Mark Deering.
Pallbearers include Robert Owen, Jack Miller, Todd Musil, Larry Weikle, Mark George and Phil Curry. Honorary pallbearers are Tanner Popp, Bruce Popp, Chris Helona, Michael Ruiz and Jimmie Helona.
Our family will be forever grateful for the understanding, patience and love provided by all caregivers at St. Catherine’s and Providence Hospice. Thank you to Mark’s Waco physicians, especially Dr. Stewart and his staff at Waco Urology who provided a dose of laughter with each visit, and to his entire team of MS specialist in Dallas. And for her continued spiritual support, we sincerely thank Sister Sini.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, St. Louis Catholic Church or China Spring Education Endowment Fund.
Lake Shore Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Print Obituary & Condolences
Pat and Family, Please know that you and your Family are in our thoughts and prayers. Mark was a fine man . RIP Mark. The Painter Family
Pat and family you are in our prayers and do know we will continue to pray during that his difficult time. Mark was very courageous and resting peacefully now.
The “whole” Murphree family
Pat, I pray you find peace knowing Mark is surrounded by his dad, Raymond, and grandparents – Aunt Lucille and Uncle Jimmy. Your love, care, and dedication to Mark is an inspiration to all family caregivers. Thank you for your commitment. And I bet Mark is sending love and gratitude to you this very moment. I cannot imagine what it must be like to lose a child since I don’t have one but my heart is with you and hopefully fills the hole/void that loss has created. I’m so sorry. God bless you and many prayers are headed your way. Take care of yourself.
My deepest condolences to you all. Thank you for trusting us with Marks care. Prayers for joy and strength that surpass our understanding.
Helona family, My heartfelt sympathy in the passing of Mark. I will always remember our youthful days together on Fadal Ave. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Blessings. Carl Kirk
Dear Pat and family,
I am very sorry for your loss. Mark was a very nice man and you are a great mom. Praying for you and your family. May Mark rest in peace.
Prayers going up for Mark and the family. We had lots of good memories from Fadal to China Spring.
God Bless you buddy
Yes, the days on Fadal were fun. I have a picture of several of you sitting in the branches our mimosa tree eating homemade pickles.
Dear Mrs.Helona and family I am so sorry for your loss.Mark was a wonderful guy and will be missed.God Bless all of you.
May God bless Mark and comfort his family and friends.
My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family in this time of sorrow. I know you were a godsend to Mark as you cared for him. Words cannot express the sorrow I know you are going though. Love to you and your family.
Pat and family, you are in our thoughts and prayers. We will always have the fun memories of Fadel street. I am so glad, that mom, dad and I had a chance to see Mark, Ann and yourself in October. May Mark, RIP.
Lisa Kaye Painter Miller
Prayers for all the Helona Family . We will all miss Mark’s sense of humor and his positive attitude. We often talk about our Beaver Cleaver Neighborhood on Fadal, a really memorable experience. Mark will definitely be missed. God Bless.
Pat and Family, you are in our thoughts and prayers. We are so glad, that we got to see Mark, Ann and yourself in October. May Mark RIP! We will always have our fun memories of growing up together on Fadal street in Waco.
To the Helona Family,
My thoughts and prayers go out to you during your time of loss. I have some great memories of the good times on Fadal Ave, all the football and baseball games, hide and seek, and chase. We had some great times. Then in high school, having the opportunity to play against Mark. I will always have great memories of Mark Helona. He played a major part in some of my fondest times. God bless you all.
To the Helona family:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. I was blessed to grow up on Fadal; so many great kids and memories. Even though Mark was older than me, he always went out of his way to make me feel like I was one of his friends. Take comfort in knowing that he in God’s hands now.
We are so saddened at the passing of Mark and pray that God will hold all of you, his family, very close to in His strong Arms. You are in our prayers and thoughts.
George and Cyndi Snokhous
Mrs Helona, Ann and Family
I am so glad I got to see all of you when I attended the Baylor baseball game with Marc George and Ronnie Bowlin……It seems like it was just yesterday Chrysler Plymouth was going at it against the giants known as Austin Closs……now Mark is with two of best men that ever coached a little leaguer on the Lake Air fields Raymond Helona and Burrell Dulaney……I am so blessed to have known Mark and it is awesome to know that we will all see him again…..RIP Mark you put up one heck of a fight……Prayers to all of you…..
Praying for you all and for Mark’s kind soul. I’ll always remember that great smile he blessed us with every time we saw him at mass,
We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
So sorry to hear of Mark’s passing. Rest in Heaven ’79 CSHS classmate. Sending prayers of comfort to his family.
Pat, I am so blessed to call you all friends and to have known Mark. We had some great times. Watching your living constant devotion to Mark has been inspirational to me and I want you to know that I admire you and pray that I can immulate your example.
We will all miss Mark dearly. Our prayers for comfort in each second.
Lovingly,
Wendy and Robert
Pat, Ann & Family,
So sad to hear the news and sorry we weren’t at the services. Mark made everyone around him smile with his contagious grin. We are proud to have called Mark Helona our friend. You can imagine the Mark/ Raymond reunion going on right now. Mark rest in peace.
To the Helona Family, Please accept my sincerest condolences for your loss of your Father, your Son, your Grandfather, and Brother. It is so hard to loose a family member especially at the young age of 57. A death of this cause hits my home because my daughter has MS at the age of 35. But I keep the thought from Revelation 21:3+4 in mind. And I also remember that we are promised by Jesus that we will have an opportunity to see our loved ones again here on earth. So I keep in mind John 5:28+29 when I think of my deceased father which gives us such a wonderful hope, please read it for yourself and be encouraged as I was when I lost my Dad.
Pat, Ann, Brian and all of Mark’s family,
I was sad to learn of Mark’s passing after his long, courageous fight. Lots of good high school memories. He always made me smile. Will be thinking of you all now and in the days ahead.
My deepest condolences to the family. May God’s promise at John 5:28,29 of a future resurrection bring you comfort. Until that time comes, he assures us at Psalm 34:18 that he “is close to the brokenhearted” and “saves those who are crushed in spirit.” So he understands your pain and grief and is eager to help you by giving you the strength you need to cope during this most difficult time. (Philippians 4:13)
Helona Family:
Praying for you all; I am so sad to hear of Mr. Helona’s passing. May God give you all peace and strength.