Helen Carol Kemp

Helen Carol Kemp

Helen Kemp Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Nov. 1 to Nov. 4, 2017.
Helen Carol Kemp passed away October 4, 2017, in Glendale.Carol is survived by her 5 children, 20 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Diane Hydorn and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard "Dick" J. Kemp; her son-in-law Dariush; her daughter-in-law Nancy and her sister, Gaye Anne Shaffer.Her family and her Catholic faith mattered to Carol above all else. This was never clearer than when she gathered dozens of relatives in her Glenoaks Canyon home each year to celebrate Christmas. Her tree was always so covered in ornaments she had received from loved ones or acquired at her favorite after-Christmas sales that the branches barely showed through.Carol was born January 8, 1929 to William H. Gorman and Sarah Helen Gorman in Sacramento. She moved to Glendale in her youth, graduating from Holy Family High School and Glendale College, where she met Dick. In 1948 they married and bought a steep hillside lot on Devonshire Lane in Glenoaks Canyon. Taking advantage of Dick's architectural training they designed and hand-built their first home, in which they raised five children. In the 1960s Devonshire was a beehive of young kids. Carol and Dick formed lifelong friendships with the families who shared "the turnaround." Carol volunteered for a multitude of causes, including the local PTA, her church, the American Field Service, and Loaves and Fishes Thrift Shop. Carol's Old West heritage inspired her lifelong can-do spirit. In 1964, with the entire hillside on fire and rapidly approaching the house, she managed to herd her brood of 5 children into the car making a successful escape. After dropping the kids off safely, she returned to the house with Dick and spent that night feeding the fire crew. At age 80, armed only with a shovel, Carol did away with a rattlesnake at her backdoor.In 1978 Carol and Dick moved to a new house further up the canyon, but Carol retained her treasured friendships with the Devonshire ladies, including Chickie, Peggy, Kathy and Agnes. It was Carol's wish to age in the house that her beloved husband had designed for their family. She was able to live out her dream with the support of caretakers Clayton, Lourdes (Lulu), Cynthia, Gabby, Maggie, Paz, Angela and Jonathan. The family thanks them from the bottom of our hearts.A funeral mass will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Glendale on Saturday, November 4 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Charities or the charity of your choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Sign Helen Kemp's Guest Book

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November 15, 2017

MARCEL T posted to the memorial.

November 14, 2017

Rick Altman posted to the memorial.

November 4, 2017

Frances Klinge posted to the memorial.

4 Entries

MARCEL T

November 15, 2017

I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family for your loss loved one. JEREMIAH 29:11 assures us that God is thinking of peace towards us, to give us a future and a hope. May that bring you comfort in this time of deep sorrow. PSALMS 9:9

Rick Altman

November 14, 2017

I am sorry for the loss of your loved one. May fond memories and the promise of life at Hosea 13:14 "From the grave I will redeem them. From death I will recover them." help to comfort your hearts and cushion your grief. My sympathy and condolence to all the family.

Frances Klinge

November 4, 2017

So sorry for your loss. The Holy Scriptures reminds us @ 2 Cor.1:3 that God really cares for us and is the "God of all comfort".

October 31, 2017

To the Kemp Family,

I worked with Carol at Loaves and Fishes Thrift Shop for a number of years. She was a wonderful, thoughtful, generous woman and I enjoyed the time we worked together. I will miss her as will all the people at Glendale Loaves and Fishes who were privileged to know and work with her. She is now happily reunited with her husband, Dick. My condolences to all the family.

Marie Smiley

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Sign Helen Kemp's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

November 15, 2017

MARCEL T posted to the memorial.

November 14, 2017

Rick Altman posted to the memorial.

November 4, 2017

Frances Klinge posted to the memorial.