Helene S. Willson

Helene Elizabeth Smedley Willson passed away peacefully on March 25, 2012 in San Diego at the age of 95, after a brief illness. Born in Letchworth Garden City, England, on January 9th 1917, Helene spent many happy hours in her childhood enjoying the woods and gardens of her rural neighborhood. She had a lifelong love of nature.

After the death of her father John Edgar in 1928 and her mother Susie Elizabeth in 1930, she and her younger brother John were sent to California to live with an aunt and uncle in Beverly Hills. She attended Westlake School for Girls, where she made friendships that lasted her lifetime. Helene graduated from Mills College, Oakland, California, in 1938 with a major in French, and married James D. (Jimmie) Willson in December of 1939. They made their home in West Los Angeles and raised their family of five, two daughters and three sons. Helene’s life revolved around her children and these years were filled with school and church activities, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, picnics and camping and family trips.

In 1960 Helene and Jimmie moved to San Diego and joined All Souls’ Episcopal Church in Point Loma, where Helene became Directress of the Altar Guild. Helene lost her beloved Jimmie in 1968 and thereafter began a long and varied journey of spiritual growth. She became more deeply involved with All Souls’, serving as Senior Warden of the Vestry and as Chalice Bearer. She was also very active in pastoral care. She once wrote, “I am blessed that people seem naturally to turn to me, and that I am able to give help.”

For many years Helene took great joy in carrying out duties as a Pink Lady volunteer at Sharp Cabrillo Hospital. She was also a member of P.E.O. Chapter DF – JH. Helene loved to travel and made numerous trips to Asia—including India, Vietnam and Japan—and Europe, including visits to her childhood home. She was especially proud of her role as one of the Madwomen in a production of The Madwomen of Chaillot at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Point Loma.

Helene will be remembered for her love of family, friends, church, theater, travel, reading, sewing, gardening and walking.

The devoted care of Rosie Flores brightened Helene’s later years.

Helene is survived by her brother John Smedley of Silver Spring, MD and by five children – Susan Willson (Rory Hayden) of Oakland, CA, David Willson (Gretchen) of Washington, DC, Judy Odom of Austin, TX, Tom Willson (Janet) of Belmont, MA and John Willson (Kim Anicker) of Bainbridge Island, WA – 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at All Souls Episcopal Church on May 26th at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to San Diego Hospice and the Institute for Palliative Medicine (4311 3rd Ave., San Diego, CA 92103) or All Souls’ Episcopal Church (1475 Catalina Blvd., San Diego, CA 92107).