Helen Diana Sekul Gutierrez

Helen Diana Sekul Gutierrez, 96, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on January 24, 2026. She was born June 2, 1929.

Helen was a lifelong Biloxian and was deeply proud of her Croatian heritage. She was the daughter of Margaret Trebotich Sekul and Peter Sekul, immigrants from Bobovišća, Brač, Croatia (formerly Yugoslavia), who settled in Biloxi, MS. Helen loved and honored her family, cherishing the many memories and experiences she shared with her cousins and relatives.

As a child, Helen attended St. Michael’s School and always spoke fondly of the nurturing, kind nuns who taught her and helped shape her early years. She was a graduate of Biloxi High School and attended The University of Southern Mississippi before marrying the love of her life, Lee “Padie” Gutierrez.

Helen and her husband Lee enjoyed an exciting life filled with extensive travel all over the world. She loved life and in her adult years, especially loved entertaining family and friends in her home. She always loved Mardi Gras and was Queen of The Revelers in 1963. Fashion and decorating were among her favorite hobbies.

A devout Catholic, Helen’s faith was of the utmost importance to her. She worked diligently to spread the Word of God and helped to start the second chapter and the first on the Gulf Coast of Magnificat, a women’s ministry. She was also a member of the Carmelite Order, whose members she adored. Helen was additionally a member of the L’Avenir Social Club and the Tuesday’s Coffee Club.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Paul Gutierrez, Jr.; her mother, Margaret Trebotich Sekul; her father, Peter Sekul; and her brothers, Anthony Sekul and Louis Sekul.

She is survived by her children, Katherine (Mark) Van Buren, Lee Paul Gutierrez, III, Pete C. Gutierrez and Lauren (Simon) Wilson; her grandchildren, Lauren Elizabeth Gutierrez, Sydney Van Buren, Rachel Gutierrez, Spencer (Maureen) Wilson and Zachary Wilson; and four great-grandchildren, Valentina Larson, Theodore Wilson, Charlotte Wilson and Florence Hanberry. She is also survived by her sister, Olivia Sekul Robbins; her brother, Ronald (Paula) Sekul; and many nieces and nephews.

She was loved beyond words and will be missed beyond measure.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 pm on Friday, February 6, 2026 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 2090 Pass Road, Biloxi, MS 39531, with visitation beginning at 11:00 am until the time of mass. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park in Biloxi, MS.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Helen Diana Sekul Gutierrez.