Obituary for Helen Marie Jones
Helen Marie Diedrich Jones
12-16-1944 to 4-27-2021
Helen was born to parents who came of age during the Great Depression, causing them to move their lives from Minnesota to California to find work. They landed in Vallejo, CA where her father worked as a shipfitter at Mare Island, repairing ships damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Helen came along after they had settled in Vallejo, the first of three children.
She attended Catholic schools for her primary education including St. Basil's Elementary and St. Vincent's High School. She later attended Vallejo Junior College and received a Bachelor of Science from the University of California at Davis in 1967.
During her time at Vallejo JC Helen met the man she would marry during her PE class, square dancing. After graduation, followed quickly by marriage, Helen and her new husband Warren both took teaching jobs with the Kern High School District. Helen started at South High School in August of 1967 where she taught home economics.
In 1973, with the arrival of her first child, Helen retired from teaching and began a new career, raising and nurturing her family. Helen spent the next 30 years dedicated to all 5 of her children and husband. Helen, also an avid seamstress, gave selflessly of her time and talent, volunteering at one time or another in all of her children's classrooms as "room mom", shuttling to and from activities and making outfits and costumes constantly.
To nourish her soul, Helen was deeply involved in church activities and was a central force in the St. Philips Thursday Women's Bible Study until she could no longer attend in 2018. In one of her first bible study groups, she found a core group of friends who spent the next 40 years meeting nearly monthly, calling their fellowship Prayer and Praise.
Her faith sustained her throughout her life, including through the loss of her beloved parents and faithful husband of 53 years. She was devoted to her family and gave graciously of her time and ability. She was a vivacious and gregarious person who, throughout her lifetime, established friendships that last to this day.
Helen's chosen charities are St. Jude's and Assistance League, where she volunteered, especially enjoying the holiday homes tour.
Helen is preceded by her parents Robert and Norma Diedrich, and her husband Warren Stanley Jones. She is survived by her daughter and grandson Rebecca and Braxton Vance, her son and daughter in law Michael and Marina Jones, her daughter and granddaughter Ruth and Camille Lusich, her daughter and son in law Rachel and David DePaola, her son daughter in law and granddaughter Sam, Misty and Emma Jones, her brother and sister in law Al and Melanie Diedrich and her brother and sister in law Jim and Mary Diedrich.
A Memorial Mass will be held Tuesday, May 11th, 2021, at St. Francis of Assisi starting at 2:00 p.m. There will also be a reception at Great Castle Chinese Restaurant immediately following the service.
12-16-1944 to 4-27-2021
Helen was born to parents who came of age during the Great Depression, causing them to move their lives from Minnesota to California to find work. They landed in Vallejo, CA where her father worked as a shipfitter at Mare Island, repairing ships damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Helen came along after they had settled in Vallejo, the first of three children.
She attended Catholic schools for her primary education including St. Basil's Elementary and St. Vincent's High School. She later attended Vallejo Junior College and received a Bachelor of Science from the University of California at Davis in 1967.
During her time at Vallejo JC Helen met the man she would marry during her PE class, square dancing. After graduation, followed quickly by marriage, Helen and her new husband Warren both took teaching jobs with the Kern High School District. Helen started at South High School in August of 1967 where she taught home economics.
In 1973, with the arrival of her first child, Helen retired from teaching and began a new career, raising and nurturing her family. Helen spent the next 30 years dedicated to all 5 of her children and husband. Helen, also an avid seamstress, gave selflessly of her time and talent, volunteering at one time or another in all of her children's classrooms as "room mom", shuttling to and from activities and making outfits and costumes constantly.
To nourish her soul, Helen was deeply involved in church activities and was a central force in the St. Philips Thursday Women's Bible Study until she could no longer attend in 2018. In one of her first bible study groups, she found a core group of friends who spent the next 40 years meeting nearly monthly, calling their fellowship Prayer and Praise.
Her faith sustained her throughout her life, including through the loss of her beloved parents and faithful husband of 53 years. She was devoted to her family and gave graciously of her time and ability. She was a vivacious and gregarious person who, throughout her lifetime, established friendships that last to this day.
Helen's chosen charities are St. Jude's and Assistance League, where she volunteered, especially enjoying the holiday homes tour.
Helen is preceded by her parents Robert and Norma Diedrich, and her husband Warren Stanley Jones. She is survived by her daughter and grandson Rebecca and Braxton Vance, her son and daughter in law Michael and Marina Jones, her daughter and granddaughter Ruth and Camille Lusich, her daughter and son in law Rachel and David DePaola, her son daughter in law and granddaughter Sam, Misty and Emma Jones, her brother and sister in law Al and Melanie Diedrich and her brother and sister in law Jim and Mary Diedrich.
A Memorial Mass will be held Tuesday, May 11th, 2021, at St. Francis of Assisi starting at 2:00 p.m. There will also be a reception at Great Castle Chinese Restaurant immediately following the service.