Helen Rinn Anderson of Prosper, Texas passed away peacefully on December 28, 2022, at the age of 89. During her life, she was an unstoppable force.
A true New Yorker, Helen was born in the Bronx, New York on October 25, 1933 to John Philip Reinhardt and Helen (Rinn) Reinhardt. From an early age, education was paramount to Helen - who found it to be a portal to an enriched and well-rounded life. Helen graduated from Mount St. Ursula High School and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in education from Fordham University, a rare accomplishment for a woman at that time. Helen fell in love and married the late John Thomas Anderson on July 21, 1956, in New York, and they enjoyed 50 years of marriage before his passing in 2006. In their prime, Helen and John loved experiencing all that life had to offer, including traveling, a robust social life and learning about all the marvels of the world. They raised 3 wonderful children, John, Deirdre, and Regina. Professionally, Helen dedicated her early years to children’s education as a schoolteacher. Later in her life, never one to be idle, Helen became a real estate agent.
Helen relished the art of conversation. Whether she was at the grocery store, the senior center, the gas station -- you name it -- she always struck up a conversation with whoever was in her path. Helen was an avid bridge player and history aficionado. She had a whip smart tongue, love of humor, and a zest for life that most can only hope to experience. She was proud of her Catholic faith, her grandchildren, and the life she lived.
Helen is survived by her son, John Anderson and wife, Cathy of Sherman, Texas; daughters, Deirdre Anderson of Prosper, Texas and Regina Laman and husband, Kerry of Bentonville, Arkansas; grandchildren, Lauren Conroy and husband, Jesse, Russell Anderson, Ashley Withers and husband, Robert, Sarah Cini and husband, Tyler, Emily Pulliam and partner, Tyler Hyland, Jennifer Laman, Grayson Laman, and Meredith Laman; great-grandchildren, Aubree, Riley, Audree, Colby, Layla, and Claire; and a host of other loving family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Anderson; parents, John and Helen Reinhardt; and granddaughter, Rachel Laman.
A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 6, 2023 at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church, 110 St. Gabriel Way, McKinney, Texas 75071. Helen will be interred next to her husband at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association in Helen’s honor.