Helen Jane Henberger's Obituary
Helen Jane (Fitzgerald) Henberger, a native to San Diego, California was born at Mercy Hospital on January 8th, 1926 to John Edward Fitzgerald and Helen Bridget Kerrigan, both of Irish Catholic heritage of Massachusetts. Helen was born and resided in San Diego County for her entire life. Here she met the love of her life, John (Jack) Charles Henberger, Sr., and from their loving union they were blessed with five children. She passed away peacefully on Wednesday January 3rd, 2018 at the age of 91. Helen is predeceased by her husband Jack and now joins him in heaven. She is survived by her children, the five “J’s” (and their spouses), John Henberger, Jr. (Sharon), Jane Rooney (Pat), Joan Bundy (Blaine), Jerry Henberger (Kerry), and Julie Elledge (Robin), as well as 14 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, all who will dearly miss her and will always cherish memories of her.Helen met Jack at the Hotel Del Coronado at a Navy mixer near the end of World War II when Helen worked for a Navy admiral and Jack was a naval officer who recently graduated from the University of Illinois and the V12 program. They started their married life in Point Loma and Crown Point and raised their children while Helen was a homemaker and Jack was a Traffic Engineer for the City of San Diego. They moved back to Point Loma in 1962 and then to Solana Beach in the 90’s. Helen devoted her life to creating and maintaining a loving, caring home where she raised her children to believe in themselves, be honest in all things respect each other and be sensitive to other’s feelings.Helen was a truly remarkable woman. A true partner to her husband both in family life and in business She loved golf, bridge, travel and design where she could combine those loves with her absolute favorite activity, shopping. Always shopping with a purpose, whether clothes for her beautifully dressed children and husband or making her family home more livable. Despite her love of shopping, Mom was both thrifty and frugal and never missed the annual Nordstrom sale. Her only shopping dilemma was not being able to help Jack with his selection of golf outfits!Helen was known by many affectionate nicknames by those that knew her best, “Helen Jane” to her parents, brothers and sisters, “Irish” to Jack, “Helen” to her friends, “Mom” to her children, “Grammy” to her grandchildren, and “Great Grammy” to her great-grandchildren…all in all, nearly 50 immediate family members.She will be dearly missed by all of us who knew her. Her final resting place is with her husband Jack at Holy Cross Cemetery in San Diego, California.
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