Helen Frances Gamarra's Obituary
'To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens.' – Ecclesiastes 3:1 A Time to be Born Helen Frances Gamarra was born in Oakland, California on March 5, 1912 to Benjamin and Elsie Rodgers. A Time to Learn She attended schools in Oakland, and graduated from Oakland High School. To enhance her creative abilities, she also completed specialized courses at various institutions of higher education. A Time to Remember Helen met and subsequently married Brooks Johnston at the original location of St. Andrew's AME Church in Sacramento, California. To this union were born three daughters: Marilyn Ardice (deceased), Lillian Elsie, and Nancy. Some years later, Helen was married to Carlo Antonio Gamarra. From this union was born one son, Mario Anthony (Max). A Time to Serve She worked for the U.S. Government (Alameda Naval Air Station) during World War II tailoring military uniforms. Helen's hobbies and interests included sewing, china painting, and still life painting using oils, acrylics, pastels, and water colors. She volunteered many hours to various organizations. As a USO volunteer she gave over 2100 hours of service. She was named 'Citizen of the Day' on three separate occasions for her outstanding contributions to the community by KABL (a Bay Area radio station), and was recognized several times for her dedication and participation in the Oakland Public School Volunteer Program at Fruitvale School. Helen loved the Lord and remained an active church member in several denominations over the years. As her ability to attend her church waned, she attended services that various churches provided in the facilities where she lived. She regularly gave Bibles, bookmarks, and a variety of Christian literature as encouragement to others in the senior citizen and nursing facilities where she resided until her passing. While in these facilities, she headed up prayer chains which connected with three Christian churches. A Time to Say Goodbye Helen Frances Gamarra died on September 9, 2006, in San Pablo, California and was preceded in death by both husbands; her parents; her five sibling: Evelyn Pistorius, Benjamin (Buddy) Rodgers, Robert (Bobby) Rodgers, a baby sister who died in infancy, Floyd Rodgers; and her daughter Marilyn Ardice Thomas. She leaves to cherish her memory; daughters ' Lillian E. Logan (son-in-law Robert Logan), Nancy Johnston-Bellard, and son Mario (Max) Gamarra; son-in-law Walter Thomas Jr., grandchildren ' Gail Brisco (Keith), Stephanie Logan, David Bellard (Kelly), Robert S. A. Logan, Xochiquetzal Smith, Sheri Shelton (Garfield), and Dustin Gamarra; 17 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
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