In Loving Memory of Helen Katherine McMahan

It is with profound sadness and a broken heart that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Helen Katherine McMahan.

My mother was so much more than my mom. She was my safe place and one of the greatest blessings of my life. As her only child, I was fortunate to share a bond with her that was uniquely ours. There will never be another person who can take her place in my heart.

Mom was a woman who loved deeply and cared for so many people. Above all, Mom loved God. Her faith was an important part of her life, and she found comfort, strength, and hope in Him. I take comfort in knowing that she is now in God's loving arms, at peace and free from pain.

She was a loving mother to me, Pamela Scardina, and a cherished mother-in-law to my husband, Michael Scardina. She absolutely adored her four grandchildren—Michael III, Sarah, Tony, and Lucas—who meant the world to her. Her grandchildren brought her tremendous joy, and she was so proud of each of them.

Her love extended far beyond her immediate family. She cared deeply for her aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and treasured the relationships she had with them. She also welcomed the people I loved into her life as her own. She loved my friends and treated many of them like family. Some even became her additional "unadopted grandchildren," creating a family that wasn't always connected by blood, but was connected by love.

Mom spent 25 years working at Lowe's in Texas City. She truly loved her job and, most of all, the people she worked with. Her coworkers and the friendships she made there became an important part of her life. She was proud of the years she spent at Lowe's and the many people she met along the way.

Mom lived in Texas City, Texas, for 39 years, making it her home and creating countless memories there.

When Mom began to get ill, she came to stay with me. I will always be grateful that we were able to have that time together. Even when she wasn't feeling well, she was still herself—loving, funny, and always looking for an opportunity to make someone laugh.

Mom loved pulling pranks on people. She had a mischievous side that could catch you completely off guard, and she was happiest when she had someone laughing. Those moments of laughter are memories I will hold onto forever.

Mom was an amazing mother. She loved fiercely, cared deeply, and made people feel like they belonged. She had a heart big enough to make room for everyone, and she never needed a blood connection to consider someone family.

Losing my mother is a pain I know I will carry for the rest of my life. But alongside the sadness is gratitude—for every hug, every laugh, every conversation, every prank, and every ordinary moment that I now realize was extraordinary simply because she was there.

She leaves behind her only child, Pamela Scardina, her beloved son-in-law, Michael Scardina, her four cherished grandchildren, Michael III, Sarah, Tony, and Lucas, as well as her beloved aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews, friends, former coworkers, and the many people she loved as family.