Obituary of Helen Pauline Nenne

Helen Pauline (Neubauer) Nenne was a caring wife, mother, sister, and friend.  She left this world on February 19, 2022, at the age of 93, with her children by her side.

Helen was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 28, 1928, the daughter of the late Arthur and Myrtle Neubauer and sister of the late Arthur and Ronald Neubauer.  She was the loving wife of 60 years to the late Edmund Nenne who passed away in 2011.  Together they had six children and seven grandchildren.

Helen is survived by her children:  Carol Nenne of Cicero, IL; Joyce Nenne of Thousand Oaks, CA; Bob Nenne of Mission Viejo, CA; Diane McPherson and husband Mike of Newbury Park, CA; Susan Campana and husband Frank of Agoura Hills, CA; Kathryn Corcoran and husband Ron of Frisco, TX; her grandchildren:  Lauren Kennedy and husband Robbie, Kellie Milbourn and husband Michael, Natalie Singler, Shannon McPherson, Michael Singler, Darcy McPherson, and Thomas Singler; her sisters-in-law Dawn Neubauer and Pat Neubauer, her nieces and nephews and their families; and her cousin’s children Judy Zerial and Jim Vosecek.

A 42-year resident of Thousand Oaks, California, she was retired from the Thousand Oaks Library, volunteered at Los Robles Medical Center, and was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and Ascension Lutheran Church, respectively.

After graduating high school in Chicago, Helen worked in the offices of Quackenbush Construction, which was instrumental in the development of the Ashburn neighborhood in Chicago that she called home.  She and her future husband were active members of the Hope Lutheran Church youth group, where they participated in a variety of activities and put on many plays, including “The Wizard of Oz” where Helen played Dorothy and Ed played the Scarecrow.

Helen enjoyed serving others.  She spent many years as an active leader and volunteer in Girl and Boy Scouting programs and will always be remembered as creating a home where all children were welcome.  She loved to read and regularly would take all the children in the neighborhood to the library to check out books. 

Helen and Ed and children would spend summers traveling in their camper and RV, visiting National Parks and other sites from coast to coast.  In retirement, she and Ed loved to travel in their RV and spend time with their grandchildren.  Helen enjoyed cooking, gardening, crossword puzzles, and card games.  She also loved animals and was always rescuing cats, dogs, and birds, including a cardinal who fell out of a nest in Chicago and moved with them to California.  In her later years, Helen began sorting her many family pictures.  She also wrote stories about her family going back to her grandparents, eventually publishing a family history book.

Helen always had a fondness for cardinals.  They were often depicted on her clothing and home décor.  It is said that if you are lucky enough to spot a cardinal, you should smile as cardinals represent passed loved ones who are watching over you.  If there is truth to this, she was always surrounded by those who went before her and she has now been granted her own wings.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 12:30 pm, with viewing beginning at 11:00 am, at Rose Family Funeral Home, Simi Valley, CA.  Burial will follow at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Cemetery, Westlake, CA.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to the Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library or National Park Foundation.  Her family thanks all who filled her last years with love.