Helen Prasifka 94, passed away peacefully in her sleep September 16, 2023.

Mass: 10:00 am, Thursday, September 28, 2023, Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 5953 Bowman Roberts Road, Fort Worth, TX. Recitation of The Holy Rosary will commence at 9:30 prior to the Mass.

Interment: 3:00 pm, Calvary Hill Cemetery, 3235 Lombardy Lane, Dallas, TX

Everyone wishing to go the cemetery, should just meet there.

Visitation: 6:00 – 7:00 pm, Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at Biggers Funeral Home, 6100 Azle Avenue, Fort Worth, TX.

Helen Villars Prasifka was born in Dallas Texas, the third of four children, to Paul and Bessie Villars. Born on the cusp of the Great Depression and the eventual World War Two she had a very active urban Dallas childhood off Beacon Street. They rode streetcars and struggled through rationing. Helping her parents out she often did the shopping and cooking for her family. Her siblings were all dark eyed and brown haired, but she was a tiny red head with freckles. She often felt like the ugly duckling but her personality, like her red hair attracted a large group of friends.

She attended St. Edwards Catholic Church in Dallas, Tx till she graduated High School. She had an exceptional soprano voice and was often featured as the vocalist for special songs and holiday music. She attended the Catholic Youth Group at St. Edwards where she met her husband, Walter Prasifka.

They shared their faith, love of music and singing. They married at St. Edwards church on December 31, 1949. They were married for the next 72 years till he passed last October 3, 2022.

After graduating from High School, she and her sister, Juanita, spent the summer in California with her older sister and aunts. She worked as a file clerk in a Bank. Returning to Dallas she worked as a typist for Southland Life downtown. She was a very fast typist and loved the new electric typewriters. After marriage to Walter, she began her full lifetime job, caring for her husband, family, and home. She was the ultimate housewife, mother, and grandmother. The heart of the family. The first few years of their marriage they moved around the country as Walter had several projects in the airplane defense business. In 1958, they bought their forever home in the Lakeside Community of Fort Worth. They were one of the founding members of what became the town of Lakeside, Tx. They were active in the social and political aspects of the developing community. She was a member of the Garden Club and hosted many social gatherings.

They had three children, son, Walter Ray, who died in infancy, daughter, Pamela Marie and son, Mark Charles.

In 1958, they joined St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Fort Worth which they attended for the rest of their lives, for 65 years. At the time the Church had a parochial school which her children attended. She actively volunteered at the school and often did any of the typing the Benedictine nuns needed. She was also active through the years in the Woman's Club and Altar Society. In later years she helped make sandwiches weekly for the homeless in downtown Fort Worth. Until her late 80's she was part of a small bible study group that met weekly.

She was a fantastic cook; her fried chicken and pies were famous locally. During holidays she would cook dozens of pies to give to neighbors, friends, and relatives. She loved family and community gatherings, dancing, singing and most of all laughing. She was actively involved and loved all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Helen was the eternal optimist who loved and cared for anyone who was willing to accept or need it. She had a huge heart for others and never put herself first and found the positives in everyone she met. She had a great gusto for life that just seemed to rub off on you. It was never dull when she was around. She was the life of the party.

One of her grandchildren commented- throughout my life Gi (Helen) modeled optimism, forgiveness, encouragement, service to her family and unconditional love setting an example for us all.

Although she struggled significantly with her short-term memory in the last few years and this last year losing her husband Walter, she never lost her caring, feisty, social self. She loved us all to the end. We will all treasure the memories and will miss her every day.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Bessie Villars; husband, Walter R. Prasifka; sister Marie Romano; and brother, Paul Villars and wife Billie.

Helen is survived by her sister, Juanita Wall; daughter, Pam Hickman and husband, Dennis; son, Mark Prasifka and wife, Diana; granddaughter, Raissa Miller and husband, Travis; grandsons, Nathaniel Hickman; Carson Hickman and wife, Kendall; Charles Justin Prasifka and wife, Elizaveta and Jacob Prasifka; great- grandchildren, Ryah Marie Miller and Stevie June Miller and a host of nieces and nephews.