Helen Casse passed into the arms of her Saviour on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the age of 100. Born the sixth of seven children to Frederick and Magdalena (Knoph) Danner on November 6, 1917, in New Orleans, LA, Helen Pauline was adopted by the Spangenberg family at the age of three after her mother’s death. From that time, Helen lived all her life in New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina forced her to move to Baton Rouge. There she resided with her niece Lynn and husband Henry Lastrapes until her death. Helen is preceded in death by her parents; adoptive parents; brothers Frederick, Daniel, William, James, and Joseph Danner; sister Elmira (Jackson); first husband Murray A. Walsh; and second husband Helmuth Casse.
Helen attended Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School, Peters Business School and cosmetician school. She was employed in the D.H. Holmes Salon for many years and later operated a beauty shop in her home. Helen was a life-long, devoted, and very active member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in New Orleans. In 1995 she was awarded the Associated Catholic Charities of New Orleans Award from Sacred Heart parish, an honor which filled her with gratitude. After Katrina she became a member of St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge where she was active in the ministry and several years ago joined St. Aloysius Catholic Church.
Throughout her lifetime, her soft heart brought many animals under her loving care, but Helen’s closest, last, and most loved was her orange tabby cat, Rusty, who helped her through the loss of her home and in adjusting to her new life in Baton Rouge.
Helen is survived by her nephews William “Bill” Danner (Joyce), James “Jim” Danner (Phyllis); nieces Carolyn “Lynn” Lastrapes (Henry), Virginia “Ginger” McLin (Ronald), Julie Milliken (Thomas), Jane Smitchger (Jack), Joan Folse (Henry), Claire McDowra, her godchild Wayne Kraus(Peggie), of Denver, CO and many grand nieces and nephews. The family would like to express deep gratitude to the hospice staff, Nita and Crystal, and to her caregivers, Shirley, Sarah and Lousinder, for their tender, loving care during her last months.
A Funeral Mass will be held at JACOB SCHOEN & SON, 3827 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA at 11:00 am on Wednesday, January 24, 2018. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until the time of the Mass. Interment will take place immediately following in Greenwood Mausoleum, Greenwood Cemetery, 5200 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, LA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests masses at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 2021 Stuart Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, 225-343-6657, or a donation to The Hospice of Baton Rouge, www.hospicebr.org., 225-767-4673, 1-888-447-0433.

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