Roll Call Tribute

Helen Anice Shelton 
November 20, 1964 - April 22, 2023 

Helen “Anice” Shelton, loving mother, sister, niece, aunt and friend, passed away on April 22, 2023, at the age of 58, following a long battle with Uterine cancer. Anice was in the Houston Hospice Care facility for a week and died peacefully surrounded by her family.

She was born in Kingsville, Texas on November 20, 1964. She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert Richard Shelton and Deborah Ann Dembski Shelton. Anice lived in Kingsville until 1977, moved to Houston for a few years, then moved to Kerrville where she attended Tivy High School.

She attended Texas A&M University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Economics and met her husband, George Duytschaever, Jr.. Anice and George had two beautiful children, Camiel and George III “Tres”. Anice and George divorced in 2012.

Anice was known as a fabulous cook, wonderful hostess, generous friend with a love for glitter, sparkles and bling. She loved to travel, attend plays and musicals (especially in NYC), attend spin and yoga classes, eat at a variety of great restaurants, watch the food channels, reality shows and movies. She loved to share her experiences, food recipes, ideas and information on social media. More than anything in this world, Anice loved her children and was so very proud of them and enjoyed their company, humor and love.

Anice went to Friday Mountain Girls Camp for six summers where she formed lasting friendships and memories. Anice was a cheerleader at Tivy High School and enjoyed other activities as well. She was a charter member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority at A&M, and has been instrumental in helping young ladies pledge into their preferred sororities as an alumni. Anice loved volunteering for several organizations, such as, Houston Junior League, Covenant House, Pi Phi Alumni, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and counseled unmarried teen mothers at LBJ Hospital. Anice volunteered at St. Francis Episcopal School when Tres and Camiel were attending. She started working with Bobby Linhart on the plays and musicals at St. Francis as a costume coordinator and then followed him to Houston Christian HS to do the same. Her leadership, talent, glitter, mentoring and love meant so much to the students and the parents.

Anice is survived by her children, Camiel and Tres and eight siblings: Noel Veith and husband Michael, Sarita Gottlich and husband Todd, Robert “Beto” Shelton and wife Sarah, Katie Shelton, Susan Tracy and husband Josh, Saphronia Jons and husband Paris “P.J.”, Kempe Shelton and Rosa Latimer and husband Roby. Also surviving Anice are her Aunts and Uncles: Steven Dembski and wife Beth, Phil Dembski and wife Evelyn, Jane Dembski and partner Susan, Gayle Dembski, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Anice will be sorely missed by many friends and family who all loved her dearly.

The family wishes to thank those that have helped Anice throughout her journey the past 6 ½ years: The doctors and nurses at Memorial Hermann – especially Dr. Elizabeth Nugent, MD, Dr. Palavalli Parsons, MD., Judith Smith, PharmD, and those on Jones 3; Anice’s Team Unicorn consisting of hundreds of friends and family members; Camiel & Tres, Anice’s “person” Aunt Jane Dembski, Su Almendarez; Denise Cassata, Karen Davis, Melonie Crenshaw, Neala Fogarty, Karen Brooks, Julie Brown, Madeline Townsend, Trish Langalante and many others that stepped in to get food to Anice, put her into her pump, wrap legs, wash her hair, change bandages, take her to the hospital, appointments, sat with her through treatments or just visit. Words can’t express the pure appreciation towards everyone that has helped.

Friends are cordially invited to a celebration and service at three o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, April 29th at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 345 Piney Point Rd in Houston. All are encouraged to wear something bright and cheery just like Anice.

A reception will be held following the service in the church narthex.

In lieu of usual remembrances, donations in Anice’s name may be directed to the following:

Hairtostay: is an organization that helps cancer patients access information and resources for cold capping therapy, a clinical method for preventing hair loss caused by chemotherapy. Anice was a passionate advocate for cold capping therapy because she emphatically felt that it had helped her maintain a sense of pride and dignity while undergoing cancer treatment. Anice kept about 80% of her hair!

Foundation for Women’s Cancer: Foundationforwomenscancer.org 

Out for Education: sends LGBTQ kids from the Greater Houston area to college-age 17-25.