Helen Walsh

1925 - 2017

Helen P. Walsh

August 29, 1925 - March 25, 2017

Helen Walsh, 91 of San Mateo died on 3/25/2017 with her family by her side. She was born 8/29/1925 in Chicago IL, to her parents John B. and Helen Parker. She was a resident of San Mateo for 63 years.

Helen was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She is survived by her sons James Walsh (Mary), Kevin Walsh (Meghan), Michael Walsh (Sherri), John Walsh (Patricia) Tom Walsh (Brenda), her daughter Aileen Turner (Willie), her grandchildren, Kerry, Chris, Ryan, Meghaan, Caitlin, Patrick, Casey, Erin, Elizabeth, Michael, Owen, William, and Anthony. Her great grandchildren, Patrick, Phillip, Peter, Vivienne, Dezmond, Nevaeh, Cali, and Addi.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony, her parents, John and Helen Parker, her brother John C. Parker (Janette), her son Brian Walsh, her grandchildren Steven Walsh and Jaime Ellison.

Following her mother's passing at a young age and with the onset of WWII she worked for the government during the war. It was at this time she met the love of her life Anthony (Tony) and following the war married in 1947 in Chicago. In 1954 they moved to San Mateo settling in the recently developed Parkside neighborhood where they discovered cherished-lifelong friends. Her active seven children kept home life busy and full. Helen was a founding parishioner of St. Timothy Church and "the new" St. Matthew Catholic Church following their move to Hayward Park in the 1960's.

Friends were never far away and the Walsh home was a welcome sanctuary for food, fun, swimming, or a festive party. Helen had many adopted neighborhood sons, daughters, and grandchildren and her door was always open. Helen spent countless years volunteering her time and held several positions with various organizations including: Catholic Charities, Serra High School Mothers Auxiliary, St. Matthew's Mother Club, St. Timothy's Mother's Club, Bingo volunteer at Serra High School, St. Matthew's, and St. Timothy's, Nocturnal Adoration Society, the Boy and Girls Club, San Mateo American Little League, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts. She also worked at A.P Giannini Bank of America and the insurance business for J.C. Penny and Catelli.

Following retirement, she and Tony spent many years traveling with friends, enjoying family, and giving their time to the community whenever possible. Helen was grounded in her faith, an avid reader, appreciated old movies, San Mateo Performing Arts, hosting swim parties, her stitch-and-bitch knitting club, enjoyed attending the Big Game, and dancing with the Two-by-Four Square Dance Club. She deeply enjoyed her many grandchildren and took pleasure in hosting weekly Sunday family dinners. Her kindness, smile, laugh, and gentle spirit will never be forgotten.

The family is forever grateful for the time she spent with the OLA Senior Outreach, her devoted caregivers, her faithful neighbor and Eucharistic Minister, and Mother Angelica's daily rosary.

Visitation begins at 5pm followed by a Rosary at 6:30pm on Friday, April 7, 2017 at Sneider & Sullivan & O'Connell's Funeral Home, 977 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10am on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 1 Notre Dame Ave., San Mateo, CA. Private interment at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma, CA.

Donations appreciated in lieu of flowers to San Mateo Caminar for Mental Health or the County Catholic Charities of San Mateo.