Helen Sweegon Leal

Mrs. Helen Sweegon Leal, 83, beloved mother, motherinlaw, grandmother, greatgrandmother, sisterinlaw, and friend entered into the glory of her eternal life on Sunday, July 31, 2011 at her residence in Brownsville surrounded by her loving family.

Helen was born on September 25, 1927 in San Antonio, Texas. A military brat, Helen came to Brownsville as a young child when her father was transferred to Fort Brown. During this time she met the boy that would one day become her husband. As a young woman, she lived in Washington, D. C. and worked as a telephone operator at the Pentagon during World War II.

After World War II, Juan A. Leal, the young boy she had met many years earlier came calling and soon after they were married. They moved to Brownsville to begin a life together that would span 57 years and which would bless them with 10 children.

Helen was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a life time member of the American Legion Womens Auxiliary where she served as their president for a number of years. She was a faithful parishioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church for many years where she was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Sacred Heart of Mary 2448.

Helens favorite pastimes were spending time with her grandchildren, gardening, volunteering her time and energy for special causes, and taking her children to the beach. Helens favorite pastime of all was dancing with the love of her life, Johnny. Helen was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by all those whose lives she touched.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Juan A Leal Sr and her parents, William Sweegon and Petra Ruiz Sweegon.

Left behind to eternally treasure their memories of her are her children: Juan A. Johnny Chela Leal Jr., Rosario Leal Sweegon, Mary Helen Andrew Patterson Leal, Diana Leal, William Kathleen Leal, Joanna Leal, Charles L. Anna Leal, Sonya Charles Leal Quijas, James Marianela Leal, and Julie Jay Mariscal Leal. She will also be missed by her grandchildren: Lupita Elena Leal, Juan A. Leal III, Rosalie Delgado Vargas, Shawn Patrick Kim Murry, Bobby John Christian Boyd, Anazatazia Alicia Petra Sweegon, John Brenda Mariscal, Joshua Mariscal, Derek and Lucas Lucio, and Chris and Mark Fakkema, 9 greatgrandchildren: Rosalia Vargas, Bailey, Cole, Cassie, and Jenna Murry, Matthew, Michael, and Lilly Boyd, and Ethan Lucio.

Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2nd and continue through 9 p.m. with the recitation of the holy rosary scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. this evening in the East Chapel at DarlingMouser Funeral Home. The funeral Mass is tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 3rd at Christ the King Catholic Church, 2255 Southmost Road. Please call the funeral home to confirm the time for the Mass. Interment will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park.

Helens sons: Juan A. Jr., William, and James Leal, along with her soninlaw, Charles Quijas, and her grandsons, Bobby John Boyd, and Shawn Patrick Murry are honored to be serving as her pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Leal, John Mariscal, Joshua Mariscal, Derek Lucio, Lucas Lucio, and her two brothersinlaw, Tomas Leal Sr. and P. A. Beto Leal Sr.

Visitation

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Service

Rosary

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
7:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass

Christ The King Catholic Church
2255 Southmost Road
Brownsville, TX  78521
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
PENDING

Cemetery

Buena Vista Burial Park
5 McDavitt Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78521