Roberta Percy Blankenstein Howell

November 20, 1930 - March 5, 2021

Roberta Percy Blankenstein Howell, 90, of Houston, Texas passed away peacefully, Friday, March 5, 2021 in the comfort of her home. Mrs. Howell was born November 20, 1930 in Natchez, Mississippi to Joseph Percy Blankenstein and Roberta Briscoe Fowler Blankenstein. She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers, The Rev. Robert Blankenstein, Deacon Eddie Blankenstein and husband, Jimmy Frank Howell and is survived by her loving children, Elizabeth Annette Howell Lenoble & husband Christian Gerard Lenoble, Roberta Elise Howell Houren & husband Jay Randle Houren, Celia Deanne Howell Dettling & husband David Michael Dettling, Jennifer Katherine Howell Caspary & husband Todd Gerard Caspary, James Frank Howell & wife Stephanie Sarao Howell, Robert Collins Howell & wife Elizabeth Humphrey Howell; grandchildren, James Joseph Lenoble & wife Melanie Lenoble, Anne Estelle Lenoble, Elise Marie Houren, Catherine Adelaide Houren, Carolyn Louise Houren, Jonathan Bentley Dettling, Ross Anthony Dettling & wife Kimberly Kattapong Dettling, Melissa Elizabeth Caspary, Sarah Caroline Caspary Arcidiacono and husband William Raines Arcidiacono, Samuel Selim Caspary, Reid Gerard Caspary, Robert Collins Howell, II, Brennan Elizabeth Howell, Kristen Elizabeth Blakley, Alexandra Nicole Blakley, Lauren Olivia Blakley; great-grandchildren, Emile Christian Lenoble, Keira Elizabeth Lenoble, Eden Estelle Lenoble, Lucien-Philippe James Lenoble; Sister, Anne Blankenstein Krause; as well as numerous nieces, nephews extended family and dear friends. As a young girl, Roberta grew up in Natchez, Mississippi with her parents and three younger siblings. During the Great Depression, her family moved to Orange, Texas. Always a helpful daughter and sister, Roberta was grocery shopping for her family one day when she met the love of her life, Jimmy Frank Howell, who worked at the butcher’s counter. She was 19 and he was 17. In 1955, the couple were married and moved to Houston, where they raised their six children. An aspiring heart surgeon at the time, Jimmy attended medical school and Roberta supported him by working at Texas Children’s Hospital alongside Ida Luttrell who would prove to be a lifelong friend. Roberta was a deeply devoted wife and mother. She and Jimmy spent most weekends at their ranch in Liberty, Texas with their family. Roberta loved to travel, and especially enjoyed visiting the Cayman Islands with her children and grandchildren. She and Jimmy went on an African safari, a trip to Peru, and on a horseback riding trip through the Teton Mountains with their six children when they were young. Roberta went on several excursions across Europe, and she and Jimmy spent many summers in France and Turkey visiting friends and relatives there. “Mae Mae” as she was known by her grandchildren, was an affectionate and doting grandmother. She loved to have everyone together at her house or the ranch and was known for her Southern cooking. As her grandchildren grew up and went off to college, she kept in touch with them near and far, always calling to check on everyone and keeping an eye on the weather, letting them know if any weather patterns were coming their way. She always loved to talk on the phone, and even learned how to FaceTime so she could keep in touch with all of her family. Roberta was a devoted friend and maintained many friendships through the years. She enjoyed spending time with her good friends in her needlepoint group, going to lunch with her “Fabulous Five,” and socializing with the “Cluckers” at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Roberta was a faithful, long-time member of St. Anne Catholic Church, and her Catholic faith was central to her life. She supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Wounded Warriors, the World Wildlife Fund, MD Anderson, and numerous other charities. Roberta had a deep respect for education and loved to read. She was a lifelong learner and took continuing education classes at the Women’s Institute, studying topics from art history and music to politics and world religions. She was always on the go, and her grandchildren joked that she was not the typical grandma whom you could expect to be home when you stopped by; it was best to call ahead and make sure she wasn’t at a class, a luncheon, or the “beauty shop” (never a hair out of place…last of the Steel Magnolias). Roberta had a passion for music: she loved to sing and had a beautiful voice and enjoyed going to the ballet and the symphony. She also loved movies and never wanted to watch the same one twice. Roberta was a lovely, graceful, elegant lady with a beautiful smile. The joy she found in daily life was contagious, and people loved being around her. She was the center of her large family’s universe. As the family matriarch, it was at her house that everyone gathered for birthdays and holidays, and in the Howell family it's never surprising to have a large, spontaneous family gathering any day of the week. Her love for her family was paramount in her life. Roberta recently celebrated her 90th birthday, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces. She was loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed. The Howell family is deeply grateful for the loving care given to Mrs. Howell by the doctors and nurses at Methodist Hospital, especially Dr. Juan J. Olivero, Sr, Dr. Albert E. Raizner and Dr. Juan J. Olivero, Jr. and Mrs. Louella Ryder, her guardian angel on earth. The family extends our deepest gratitude to her caregivers, Kelly, Ismary, LaLa, Laura, Josy, Angie, Claudia, Sylvia, and Erica as well as the DaVita team, especially Gus and Debbie. We also extend our sincere appreciation to her dedicated and loving staff at Howell Group LTD, Susan Cotton, Becca Cain and Gloria Castro. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated privately Friday, March 12, 2021 at 10:00 AM. The Holy Rosary followed by the Holy Mass will be live streamed beginning at 9:30 AM at this link: https://youtu.be/OsVEGJ5_V0E Private Interment Services will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. The Howell grandsons will act as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include Mr. Jim Brown, Dr. Albert E. Raizner, Dr. Juan J. Olivero, Sr., Dr. Juan J. Olivero, Jr., Mr. Gary L. Warren. In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution in Mrs. Howell’s memory to Baylor College of Medicine, Jimmy and Roberta Howell Chair in Cardiovascular Surgery, MSC #800, Post Office Box 4976 Houston, Texas 77210, St. Anne Catholic Church in support of the priests there at https://www.saintanne.org, The Women’s Institute of Houston at https://www.wih.org/donate, or to a charity of your choice.