Obituary
Guest Book
Marjorie Fiehrer Hellinghausen, 86, died August 22, 2017, in Midland, Texas.
Marge was born January 18, 1931, to Marjorie M. Vaughan and Marc A. Fiehrer, in Hamilton, Ohio, the oldest of seven children. She graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1949. She earned a B.A. in Theology at Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana, in 1953. In June of 1953, Marge met Don Hellinghausen in Port Arthur, Texas, at the wedding of college classmates. She and Don married in 1954 in Hamilton, Ohio, and settled in Breckenridge, Texas, having eight children over the next ten years. In 1969, they relocated to Midland, Texas.
In 1974, Marge became a teacher at St. Ann's Catholic School, where she taught for five years. Beginning in 1987, she served as Director of Religious Education at St. Ann's Catholic Church, a position she held until 2001, remaining another couple of years in an advisory capacity. Over the years, Marge built an immense circle of friends and admirers through her spirit of unconditional acceptance, caring, and intellectual curiosity. She was an exceptional scholar and voracious reader, with remarkable recall of the people, books, and ideas she had encountered throughout her life.
Marge is survived by seven of her eight children and their spouses, Mary Schlecht and husband Jim, of Ninnekah, Oklahoma; Michael Hellinghausen and wife Linda, of Dallas; Ann Rusnak and husband Joe, of Midland; Jane Hellinghausen and husband Glen Aaron, of Midland; Elizabeth Zenteno and husband Blas, of Midland; Sara Welch and husband Pat, of Midland; and John Hellinghausen, of Midland; and her twelve grandchildren, Sara Jane Schlecht, Mathilde Hellinghausen, Paul Hellinghausen, Adam Hellinghausen, Michael Zenteno and wife Meghann, Tomas Zenteno, Isabella Zenteno, Elaine and husband Cameron Connell, Diana Welch, Luke Welch, Amanda Hellinghausen, and Erich Hellinghausen. She is also survived by her siblings Melanie Reed, Diane Griesmer, Thomas Fiehrer, Mary Johnson, and Tilly Pfeiffer. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don; her youngest daughter, Nancy Hellinghausen Brown; and her brother, Jack Fiehrer.
A rosary will take place at St. Ann's Catholic Church on Friday, August 25, at 5:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 26, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Ann's, immediately followed by a reception in the Commons. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery on Monday, August 28, at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Sisters of the Living Word (www.slw.org), or the Casa Juan Diego Catholic Worker House (www.cjd.org).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Ellis Resthaven Funeral Home and Memorial Park.
September 19, 2017
Friend
Mark and J'Lynn Wheeler
Liz, Blas and your entire family. We are deeply sorry for your loss and are keeping you all close at heart and in our prayers. Love, J'Lynn and Mark Wheeler
September 2, 2017
Frank Stowell
Love that beautiful smile! Good thoughts and prayers for all those Mrs. H leaves behind. The offspring of this marriage are amazing human beings who carry the torch so well. God bless you all!
September 1, 2017
Sonya Blocker Johnson
Hellinghausen family
Deeply sorry for your loss. Know that heaven has gained a light that shines on those left behind. Until such time you are reunited with your loved one live your life she did by serving the lord.
August 30, 2017
Friend
Kristine Vorenkamp
I knew Marge in San Angelo when she was living in Holy Angels parish. I was the Pastoral Assistant from 1986-1988. Marge was very involved in her church, and I enjoyed sharing with her very much. Later, she became an Associate of the Sisters of the Living Word when she moved to Midland.
I share my condolences with her family,friends and fellow ASLW's in Midland. She was a wonderful, kind, joyful and faith-filled human being.
May God's loving embrace that she now knows eternally extend to all of you.
Thank you, Marge, for your life with us here with us.
Peace,
Sister Kristine Vorenkamp, SLW
Congregational Leadership
August 30, 2017
Joyce Silverman
Prayers and good thoughts.
August 29, 2017
Lynnette Frigon
I remember going to my Aunt's funeral in Kansas and the floor was wet from tears from the people who loved her. Thank you Marj. For All the Great Acts of Kindness that you did ! Thank you for making religion beautiful. Thank you for being a strong female leader from the greatest generation. You were loved so much !
August 27, 2017
Barbara Stewart
dear, dear Marge ... such a wonderful, vivacious soul!
The photo you have chosen is lovely.
I know you, her family, will miss her. There are undoubtedly many good memories to keep your spirits buoyed.
I didn't learn of her passing until it was mentioned during the Mass on the 27th. My heart breaks.
God be with you.
August 26, 2017
Patricia Stevens
Marge was an amazing woman. I did not know her well and yet she made an immediate and positive impression on me. May beautify love memories of her nurture family and friends. I know she will be deeply missed.
August 25, 2017
The Schlaffer Family
Our deepest sympathy to the entire Hellinghausen Family. When we first moved to Midland we heard the name Marge around St. Ann's all the time. When we finally met Marge we understood why! She had such a radiance that filled the room! We feel blessed to have known Marge.
August 25, 2017
Lois Pardue-Smalley
Her friends in Breckenridge are saddened at the passing of Marge. She was a delight to know. "May light perpetual shine upon her and bring her to everlasting life."
Lois Pardue Smalley
August 25, 2017
Shirley Stephenson
Liz and Families,
Thinking of you in your time of grief. She had to have been a fantastic Mother to have raised such jewels. My heart weeps for you.
August 25, 2017
Dick and Linda Kiekbusch
Our prayers are with Marje and her family.
August 24, 2017
Marcia Ingram
There are so many qualities about Marge of which I could speak: her integrity, her great love for family and friends, her compassion for the downtrodden, her loyalty in friendship, her great gift of articulation. She was a woman of passion that touched every area of her life. Passion is an intense emotion, a compelling enthusiasm or desire for something. That was Marge.
The late Maya Angelou once wrote: "My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. That too was Marge.
There is a hole in our hearts losing our dear and cherished friend.
August 24, 2017
Mary, Jane, Elizabeth, Sara, Ann, John and Mike,
I loved your mother and we had so much fun together laughing and talking.
She was a delight to me and so many other people. What a scholar.....so well read, articulate and eager to learn everything she could about any subject that interested her. I am sure she has been welcomed in heaven....with open arms, come in, we have been waiting for you.....Nancy McCarroll
August 24, 2017
Sylvia Cevallos
My deepest condolences to the family. Marge will be greatly missed at our ASLW group meetings. We were so blessed to know her. Our prayers are with you!
August 24, 2017
Mary Duarte
I am so sorry for your loss Mrs. Welch. I loved your parents so much. I feel so blessed to have known such great kind hearted people. I will never forget them. My prayers are with you all.
August 24, 2017
Ruby Rivera
I am so sorry for your loss, Mrs. Welch. May God console you and your family in this time. Our prayers are with you.
~The Rivera Family
August 24, 2017
Kelly Glenn Stout
My thoughts and prayers to all... It seems that she has been in my life for my lifetime. Heaven has gained a wonderful Angel... She will be missed.
August 24, 2017
Mary Ann Dzubinski
She was a great lady. My thought and prayers are with your family.
August 24, 2017
Muriel Cullen Argen
August 23, 2017
Linda Honeyfield
A Dear, Dear Friend to many of us. We were so blessed by her friendship, wisdom and love. My prayers for all her family!!
August 23, 2017
Bobby Mills
"A joyful spirit is evidence of a grateful heart." Maya Angelou
Marge taught me that over the years. I will be praying to her joyful spirit often, asking for her intercession. Bobby Mills, ASLW
Showing 1 - 22 of 22 results
Funeral services provided by:
Ellis Resthaven Funeral Home and Memorial Park4616 North Big Spring Street, Midland, TX 79705
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read moreWhat kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read moreWe'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreIf you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read moreLegacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreThey're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read more