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Helen Ardigo Potthast

1936 - 2018

Helen Ardigo Potthast obituary, 1936-2018, Los Angeles, CA

BORN

1936

DIED

2018

Helen Potthast Obituary

HELEN ARDIGO POTTHAST July 23, 1936 - July 19, 2018 Helen (nee Ardigo) Potthast was born on July 23, 1936 in Williamson, KY, the daughter of Joseph and Josephine Ardigo, and the fifth of seven children. She was raised in Williamson, and attended West Virginia University in Morgantown and Morris Harvey College in Virginia. After working for a year in Cincinnati, she joined her siblings in Santa Monica, CA. She met her loving husband, Al Potthast, while attending a dance at the Damien Club in Santa Monica. They were married on April 18, 1959 and made their home in Los Angeles where they raised their four children Cynthia, Fred, Christopher and Mike. We were lucky to have a full time mother who fully participated in our lives and the community. She was a Camp Fire Leader for 12 years, a Little League volunteer, managed our many summer camping trips and travels and in general juggled our lives. Helen was an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish for 35 years where she held every office on the Ladies Council, chaired or volunteered on too-many-to-mention events, and volunteered in support of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. She was also a wicked bowler and you were lucky to have her on the team. After Al's retirement, Helen and Al moved to Paradise and joined St. Thomas More Church where she embraced this wonderful community and continued her volunteer service, again with the Ladies Council. She was an amazing gardener anything and everything grew under her care - and was always creative sewing, crafting, and decorating. But Paradise is where she finally blossomed as an artist. In the last 25 years she became an accomplished watercolorist, and recently expanded to acrylics and collage. She earned many ribbons and awards at the local county fairs, and art shows. We show her work proudly in our homes. Helen was a doting grandmother to her grandchildren Kyle, Riley, and Thomas. These are the facts. The truth is that our mother was a kind and loving woman, charming and funny; devoted to God, her family and her many, many friends. She loved us all with an open and giving heart, and we loved her without reservation. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings Adrienne, Joe, Jane and Josephine. She is survived by her husband Al, children Cynthia (Craig), Fred (Marti), Chris (Christine), Mike, grandchildren Kyle, Riley and Thomas, siblings Ann and Jerry, and her many nieces and nephews, all of whom will miss her every day. VIGIL will be held on Friday, July 27 at 7p at St. Thomas More Church, 767 Elliot Road, Paradise, CA 95969. FUNERAL MASS will be held on Saturday, July 28 at 1pm, also at St. Thomas More Church. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations in Helen's name to The Art Center of Paradise or the Hospice House, Paradise

Published by Paradise Post from Jul. 28 to Jul. 31, 2018.
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5 Entries

To the family, please accept my deepest condolences. May all find strength and rest from Almighty God during this time.
Ellen

November 20, 2018

I"m truly sorry for your lost may God comfort you at this difficult time at 1peter5:10 he will make you firm, he will make your strong, he will firmly ground you.

November 14, 2018

As you remember your love one, as God heals your broken hearts (Psalm 147:3), may your treasured memories bring you peace, comfort, and strength to endure.

September 9, 2018

Condolences to the Potthast family for your loss. May God grant you peace at this difficult time. Jeremiah 29:11-12

August 1, 2018

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

Annie Horne

August 1, 2018

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Memorial Events
for Helen Potthast

Jul

27

Vigil

7:00 p.m.

St. Thomas More Church

767 Elliot Road, Paradise, CA

Jul

28

Funeral Mass

1:00 p.m.

St. Thomas More Church

CA

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