Helen M Sneary

The family of HELEN SNEARY (Admire) (Parsley), 91, of Escondido, CA, announces her passing on February 8, 2023 at Palomar Hospital due to stroke complications.

Mom had a strong sense of values & loved GOD, FAMILY & COUNTRY -she will be missed.

ECCESIASTES 3 “Everything Has Its Time” “3:1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven; 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die;” …as Mom’s time came – she had been listening to Bible verse recordings provided by Son Dale.

Born, Helen Elizabeth Parsley on June 18, 1931, to John & Rinda Parsley of St. Joseph, MO.  She was preceded in death by her parents & was the last of 8 siblings:  Allie, Bill, Lillian, Jack, James, Lawrence, & Jean.  She was also preceded in death by the love of her life, Ray Sneary, and our father Dale Admire.

Helen is survived by her children & their spouses:  Pam & Jim Bordeaux of Escondido, CA; John & Kathleen Admire of Rincon Reservation, CA; Rob & Luanne Admire of Seabeck, WA; Dale & Theresa Admire of Hemet, CA.  She is also survived by 7 grandkids: Debi, Ami, Jenny, John (Darcy), Shannon, Kate (Jon) & Sarah; 10 great-grandkids: Earl, Cheyenne, Kassidy, Harley (Dillin), Andrew, Emma, Winter, Cole, Robert & Nico; 4 great-great-grandkids: Cora, Della, Jackson, Lila; and extended family & friends who are spread across the nation.

Mom had great pride in becoming a 5-generation family & loved it when her kids & grandkids would come to visit.  She especially enjoyed extended stays with her grandkids.

Over the years, Mom had many pets & loved them like family.  She was always rescuing some abandoned stray or adopting from an animal shelter.  Her last stray was a cat named “Roamer”, who, Mom said “had rescued her”.  We feel Mom was greeted “above” by her many pets from- Roamer, Rosey (grand-dog), Inga, Cooper, Missy, to name a few.

Over Mom’s 91 years of life, Mom moved many times between Missouri & California.  She first lived in Escondido in the early 1940’s as a transient work family – with parents, brother (Lawrence), & sister (Jean). She attended Orange Glen’s one-room school.  Mom then traveled back to St. Joseph, MO, where she graduated from Benton HS in 1949.  After marrying in 1950 & starting a family, moving continued between MO & CA.  In 1968, she moved with sons from Escondido to Hemet, CA. In 2002, Mom moved back to Escondido due to health & to be close to family again.  She lived next door to daughter Pam & family for almost 20 years, until health complications in 2021 caused a move into a care facility.

Thru the years, Mom worked various jobs from salesclerk, motel care staff, manufacturing & elder caregiver, but the job she loved most- being a Mom & Grandma.  She put up with all of us – thru our good years, our difficult years, our in-between years & still loved us.  Although Mom was small in stature, her heart was big & we always looked up to her.  As Son John said “Mom, thanks for being there!”

Over the years, Mom instilled a sense of giving in all of us. She supported many charities dear to her heart – Animal Shelters, Veteran, Police, Firemen Associations, Salvation Army Red Kettle, Red Cross, Children’s Hospitals & Meals on Wheels – to mention a few.

Mom caught the travel bug early in life.  She enjoyed travelling & was always ready to take a trip by car, train or plane.  One trip Mom favored was when daughter Pam, & husband Jim took her cross-country in their RV to see family in Missouri.  Most travelers collect post cards, Mom collected rocks & on this RV trip, she collected rocks from each state.  Mom’s favorite places to go ranged from the beaches to mountains & desert. She was adventurous & liked camping, hiking, and biking with us.  Mom even “skydived” with Son Rob, for her 60th birthday!  While married to Ray, their adventures continued – road trips to favorite get-a-ways, flights cross-country to visit family or just being home together.

Mom was a nature lover.  Most times, you’d find Mom tending her garden, pet or bird watching & setting on an old wood swing or on the front porch – just taking in life.  She had great pride watching her American flag fly over her garden & her little bit of country.

Mom had a strong sense of faith during her battle with dementia & multiple ailments over the last few years; and, although we’ll miss her this spring & always, we feel she finally got her “wish” from GOD – to take her home & be rejoined with loved ones who passed before her.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 17, 2023. 

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