Helen Marie Matus lived a happy and active life for 90 years. She was born to Joe and Lillian Makovy on February 24, 1936 in Abbott, Texas. Helen graduated from Abbott High School and helped on the family farm. She met her husband, Marvin, at a cousin's wedding where they were paired together as bridesmaid and groomsman. The rest is history.

Marvin and Helen married June 30, 1956, and celebrated 64 years of marriage until Marvin passed on August 31, 2020. They raised four children and enjoyed many activities throughout their life including church organizations, scouting and square dancing.

After Helen grew up picking cotton, she was determined to provide her children with the best education possible that would enable them to support themselves. They moved to East Dallas in 1957 and were members of St. Pius X Catholic Church for 48 years where their children also attended grade school and junior high. They moved back to the country near Wills Point, Texas in 2004 to be close to grandchildren. It was here they became members of St Therese Catholic Church in Canton, Texas.

Helen enjoyed serving as Girl Scout Leader and a Boy Scout Den Mother for her children. She worked at Presbyterian Hospital as an Accounts Manager for 21 years retiring in 1994. She loved caring for her grandchildren whenever needed, creating lots of fun and memories.

Marvin and Helen found square dancing in 1970 and kept do-si-do-ing across the U.S. through 2017 (47 years). They were life members of Stone Steppers Square & Round Dance Club. Over the years, they served as Club President multiple times and every other office. They also served as Nortex Square & Round Dance Association President as well as Texas State Federation of Square & Round Dance President in 1982. In 2010, the Nortex Square & Round Dance Association honored Marvin and Helen by naming a special award after their many years of service – the Marvin & Helen Matus Lifetime Achievement Award. They also enjoyed many years of traveling to Colorado to a square and round dance retreat destination where they danced every day and discovered the region with friends.

In Wills Point, they both spent time gardening with Helen showing her green thumb with enviable flower beds. As parishioners at St. Therese Catholic Church in Canton, Helen helped whenever possible including a weekly East Texas Food Bank distribution for many years and was an active member of the Ladies Guild where she headed up the monthly bake sales filled with her cookies, sweet breads and cupcakes for several years. More recently, she was involved in creating a pot-luck lunch after Wednesday noon mass. It grew to include more people and built beautiful friendships among parishioners. After Marvin passed, she initiated a group for widows called Mary's Daughters to share navigating life solo and tips for helpers from gardeners to doctors and more. She also enjoyed a non-denominational women's group that would meet monthly for lunch at various restaurants in the area. Helen also enjoyed her gym classes where she met even more wonderful people. Always social, helpful, and kind, she developed life-long friendships wherever she went.

Her family remains the treasures of her life. Simply spending time together was the best gift of all. She loved playing dominoes in the evenings and rarely passed up any adventure that came her way.

Helen is survived by her children Richard, Nancy (Brian Thompson), Mike (Carrie), Greg (Jude), her grandchildren Nicole, Kelsey (Latham Akins), Penelope and great grandchildren Bryer and Grady. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Marvin, brothers Jerome, Vincent, Harry Joe, sister Mary Ann, and brother-in-law, Fr. Walter Matus.

A Celebration of Life Mass is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 11:30 AM. A Rosary will precede the service at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Helen's memory may be made to St. Therese Catholic Church at 885 First Monday Lane, Canton, Texas 75103.