Helen Madeline Habeeb

Janice Rieger (Paul), Kathy Shepard, Linda Crotti, Jack Mercurio (Cindy), Jim Mercurio (Teri), Christine Mercurio and a number of nieces and nephews (Paul, Adam, Krystina, Ava, Danika, Izabella) and countless cousins & friends including his beloved Mother-in-law, Kim Kapogiannis & family.

He was a terrific father, a dedicated husband, and a loving brother and best friend to so many. He has made his mark and his legacy will live on. His smile and laughter, too.

A viewing (6PM-7PM), Rosary (7PM-7:30 PM) and open-mic tribute (7:30 PM-9PM) is scheduled for Wednesday, September 15 at the McCune Garden Chapel, 212 Main Street, Vacaville, CA.

Funeral services and a Catholic Mass will be held on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at 12:30PM at St Mary’s Catholic Church, 350 Stinson Ave. Vacaville, CA 95688. A traditional Mercurio reception will immediately follow the grave site burial.

For the countless number of people who have inquired about making contributions in support of Dave & Nicki’s kids, Anthony (13) and Dante (9), a Chase Bank Savings Account was recently opened for his two boys. For online contributions, you can use “Zelle” and the following email address: nicki357@comcast.net. succeed in life while inspiring them with her business acumen, sense of style, and lifelong love of learning. Her home and garden were central to family gatherings, especially for the incredible meals she created there. No matter when someone showed up at her house, Edna would find a way to feed them

something delicious, served with inimitable flair and attention to detail. Beyond her magical talents in the kitchen, Edna was wonderful company. She was incredibly intelligent and witty, with a sharp, dry sense of humor. There was always a twinkle in her pale blue eyes which reflected the somewhat mischievous little sister she was said to have been. In her later years, she was a fun grandmother and greatgrandmother.

Edna is survived by her two sons, five grandchildren, and seven greatgrandchildren, all of whom miss her already.

For those who wish to mark her passage during the challenges presented by COVID today, a visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 14th, 2021, from 2-6 pm at Crippen and Flynn Woodside Chapel, 400 Woodside Road, Redwood City. Masks will be required and visitors are asked to maintain social distance as much as possible. A private funeral mass for family members only will be held on September 15th 2021 at St. Pius Catholic Church in Redwood

City. The family asks that, in lieu of attendance or flowers, donations in her memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org), UNICEF (www.unicef.org), or a charity of your choice.

Helen Habeeb left this world for a well-deserved rest at the age of 92, after volunteering countless hours of her time to a local grammar school, to Peninsula Hospital, Millbrae Lions Club, Bay area Special Olympics (Lions), and the San Mateo County Grand Jury.

Helen started out life modestly – she was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, where she attended St. Patrick’s Grammar School and Lowell High. While still a teenager she worked in one of the city’s lessthan-pleasant textile mills. She was a rivet technician, joining The International Ladies Garment Workers Union, Mass. Not long after Helen enrolled and graduated from Lawrence (Mass.) Business College and met her future husband, George, who whisked her off at age 20 to San Francisco, where he was born.

Helen worked for the U.S. Navy at Treasure Island (San Francisco) as an accountant, and she and George started a family and moved a little south to Millbrae, CA. George joined the Lions Club, and as the children grew up, the family hosted a number of international exchange students through the organization. And Helen discovered her fondness for hosting family and special friends from home and abroad.

Folks were coming and going, but Helen nevertheless found time to teach a remedial reading class at St. Dunstan’s Grammar School, where her children were enrolled. Later, as the children got to high school and college, Helen’s volunteerism took off, and she began years of giving any free time to nurse’s aide work at nearby Peninsula Hospital, and as President of both St. Dunstan’s and Millbrae’s Women’s Clubs. When George retired, Helen took a job in United Airlines’ bookkeeping pool so that the couple could travel and visit friends abroad more readily. Both remained very active in Lions and in other local community organizations, dutifully attending meetings and pitching in where they could.

In 2002, Helen was voted Millbrae Woman of The Year, honoring her volunteer work in the city, including her Board of Trustees membership in the Millbrae Historical Society and Museum.

Always active, Helen sat down only to chat, or to watch her favorite sports team, the Golden State Warriors. Family always came first for her. Her children and grandchildren will remember her as an interested and generous mother and grandmother. As family and friends grew, countless photos attest to how much she loved hosting and cooking at every opportunity! She will be very missed by all.

Helen is preceded in death by the love of her life, George, after 70 beautiful years of marriage.

She is survived by her children Kenneth (Maria), Gary, (Kim), Patricia (Shawn), niece and god-daughter Donna (Chris), grandchildren Alexandra, Roxanne, Michael, and George, great-grandson Charlie, and many nieces, nephews, grandnephews, grandnieces, and beloved “adopted” family friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions to:

Lions Project for Canine Companions for Independence

P.O. Box 446, Santa Rosa, California 95402, and

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105