Helen M. Jackson, 90
DOVER - Helen M. Jackson passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at Capital Nursing Home in Dover.
To those who she loved and loved her, she was known as Helums! and Granny. She hated when she was assigned the name of Granny. She felt it sounded too much like a "little old lady". But, it became her most cherished term of endearment.
Helen was born October 1, 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Barney and Bernice Chanel. She grew up in Philadelphia where she graduated from Frankford High School. The daughter of polish immigrants, she recognized the value of higher education. Although she did not attend college herself, she afforded the opportunity for her children and grandchildren to have this privilege.
She worked after high school at the General Motors Corporation in the accounting department in Philadelphia, Pa. She met her husband Walter at a dance at the Philadelphia Armory while he was serving his country during the Korean War. After living in Baltimore for a short time, they moved to Harrisburg and Camp Hill, Pennsylvania before settling in Dover, Delaware in 1972.
Later in her life she worked at the Child Development Center at Dover Air Force Base. She loved babies and small children. The toddlers and children adored her. She was never too busy to give them her full attention and listen to them with patience and curiosity. She was an avid reader. She especially liked reading "Halloween" by Jerry Seinfeld to her two grandchildren every year. She loved recommending books to friends and family long before Oprah ever had a book club.
She was frugal. Cable TV, cell phones and the internet did not exist for Helen Jackson. She refused to pay for something that you can get for free. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a pair of rabbit ears.
She loved classical music and attending concerts at the Philadelphia Orchestra or the local Dover Symphony. This was a highlight in her life, especially when she was accompanied by the youthful and handsome Ben Knapp.
She never missed a happy hour, indulging in a glass of wine every night.
She loved flowers and gardening, especially when her son, the gardener, did all the work. She was particularly fond of the peace rose and lily of the valley.
Her Catholic faith was important to her and she was a devout member of Holy Cross.
Unlike most people that get cranky and grouchy as they age, with each passing year she became sweeter and kinder. She was always appreciative of the least little thing that anyone would do for her. While she spent the last two years in a nursing home, residents and staff would light up when they saw her.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Walter Jackson; and brothers, Edward Chanel and John Chanel.
She is survived by son, Greg Jackson of Dover; daughter, Lisa Weis and her husband Tom of Dover; daughter, Felicia Jackson of Blacksburg, Va.; and grandsons, Matthew and Nicholas Weis.
The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 and will be private due to COVID. The family will be holding a virtual service via Facebook Live, which will be accessible through the Torbert Funeral Chapel Facebook page and through the link that can be found below. Family and friends join the Livestream 30 minutes before the service to view the memorial slideshow. The interment will take place at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bear, Del. Services will be live casted on Torbert Funeral Chapel's Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/torbertfuneralchapels.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to the Dover Public Library, the Philadelphia Orchestra or the charity of your choice.