Roeslein, Helen

A funeral mass will be held for Helen Roeslein (nee Weinmueller) at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Assumption Catholic Church on 4725 Mattis Rd., St. Louis, MO 63128. Helen went to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at the age of 91.

Helen was the beloved mother to Rudolph (Judith) Roeslein and John (Cindy) Roeslein; dear Oma to Joseph (Carrie) Roeslein, Kimberly Roeslein (Brian) Sneed, Derrick (Victoria) Roeslein, Lisa Roeslein, Jason (Lisa) Roeslein and Angela Roeslein (Clayton) Suter; Great Oma to Amber Sneed, Brenden Sneed, Hailey Roeslein, Calista Sneed, Anna Roeslein, Payton Munson, Shea Munson, Nathan Roeslein, Maxwell Munson, Nolan Roeslein, Quinn Roeslein, Dylan Roeslein and Wade Suter. She watched over all of them at some point in their lives, instilling in them her values of how to treat other people with love, kindness, and most of all forgiveness.

She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Katharina Weinmueller (Rudolf) Draxler, sister-in- law, Susan Weinmuller, her cousin Katharina Jochum and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Helen is preceded in death by her husband Andrew Roeslein, her parents Rudolf and Maria Weinmueller, her sister and brother-in-law Elizabeth Weinmueller (George) Kent, her brother and sister-in-law Ludwig (Luise) Weinmueller, her brother Heinrich Weinmuller, and her nephews Michael Kent and Roland Draxler.

Helen was born on May 21, 1930 in Sremska Mitrovica, Yugoslavia. Her ancestors had lived there for centuries. In the fall of 1944, when she was 14 years old, her father sent her, her mother, her grandmother, her two sisters and two brothers to Salzburg, Austria to flee the persecution that was just beginning. She never saw her father again but his decision likely saved their lives. She talked about him almost every day and we know they are finally reunited in Heaven. Her grandmother and mother passed away in Salzburg, Austria but all of her siblings immigrated to the United States, got married, had kids, grandkids and great grandkids. With the help of a good friend named John Kleiber, Helen, Andrew and their two sons came to the United States from Salzburg, Austria in August of 1956 along with Andrew’s parents, John and Anna Roeslein, and his maternal grandmother, Magdalena Pavle.

Helen’s way of saying goodbye was to say “count your blessings” and “thanks for the memories!” She was the glue of our family and inspiration of how life should be lived. She cherished and appreciated what gifts this great country bestowed on an immigrant family looking for a new start after being driven out of their homeland in Yugoslavia after WW2. She worked tirelessly as a seamstress for Famous and Barr until retiring and later sewing out of her home closet. She always tried to make things as perfect as possible or she wouldn’t do them at all. She inspired us to do the same. She never ever said “no” to watching a grandkid or great grandkid. Extended family was also very important to her. She often made cross country trips to see her siblings, nieces and nephews and their children. She even made trips to Salzburg, Austria to visit her cousin. She was kind to her neighbors. She was a faithful Catholic and prayed the rosary regularly. She had many crucifixes and paintings of Jesus and Mary throughout her home. She liked to teach all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren how to pray.

About 14 years ago Helen wrote a book about her family’s time spent living as refugees. At the end of the book she wrote, “I would like to say for all of us, ‘My dear God, we thank you for all the help you gave us during the many difficult times we went through. You got us through it all and gave us new lives in the United States, which we have enjoyed very much. For all you have done we thank you and we will never forget you.’”

Our family wants to celebrate Helen’s life and thank her for blessing us with so many wonderful memories. The Memorial Mass will celebrated at Assumption Catholic Church (4725 Mattis Rd. 63128) on Saturday, May 21 at 10:00 am. Inurnment at Resurrection Cemetery.