Helen Pauline Oberg
February 14, 1923 ~ April 25, 2016
Helen Oberg passed away on April 25, 2016 at her home at Sunrise of Hunter Mill in Oakton, Va where she lived for the past eight years. Born on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1023, Helen shared her special birthday with her grandson Collin and her granddaughter Alexis' birthday is just two weeks earlier. Helen grew up in Lansdowne, Md., and went to Catonsville High School where, upon graduating, she was given the honor of a position working in the school office.
Just a few years later, Helen met and married her husband, Ted Oberg during World War II and was able to accompany him on one of his assignments while stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. It's unclear whether her love of fishing began during that time or during her childhood, but suffice it to say that she took advantage of the excellent fishing grounds while there. After the war, Helen began raising a family with Ted, living first in Maryland and six years later moving to Falls Church, Virginia. Here she lived for 25 years raising three daughters; Karen, Kathy and Kristie. Although she lived in Virginia for many years, as a true Marylander, Helen was never known to turn down an offer to go out for steamed crabs or crab cakes, and she and her sisters could call you "hon" with the best of them.
Helen loved gardening and got her green thumb from her father "P. A." Her yard was filled with a variety of flowers and flowering bushes, and her vegetable garden yielded tomatoes, zucchini and delicate yellow squash, corn and red raspberries, to name a few. She found yardwork quite therapeutic. Helen's "claim to fame" was growing fully producing peach trees in the back yard from the pit of a peach she enjoyed one summer day and then stuck in the ground. With her blossoming yard came a constant stream of song birds which Helen thoroughly enjoyed feeding and watching throughout her life. She continued her love of fishing with Ted, family and close friends and they were often found up to their waders in a Shenandoah Valley trout stream. On many occasions she came home with the bigger catch.
Helen began working in the Intelligence Community in 1962 and continued in Government service until 1983, when she retired after 21 commendable years of service. In later years, she thoroughly enjoyed her two grandchildren Alexis "Lexie" and Collin. Helen loved attending their sporting events, scouting and school activities and staying involved in their lives. She became "Nana" to everyone.
Helen very much enjoyed traveling with her sister Midge and made some long-time friends from their tour groups. They visited Hawaii, Italy, Ireland, England and Yellowstone National Park. Helen also made a return trip to Alaska where she made sure to take the excursion to fly over the North Pole.
Helen leaves behind daughters Kristie Oberg and Kathleen DiStasio (and husband Albert), grandchildren Alexis Thurlow and Collin Rosenbluth, as well as her brother Robert "Bob" Riggleman and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband Theodore Oberg, daughter Karen Thurlow, her sisters Hazel Scheminant, Mildred Parrott, Betty Graham and her brother William "Bud" Riggleman. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association http://www.alz.org/. Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Just a few years later, Helen met and married her husband, Ted Oberg during World War II and was able to accompany him on one of his assignments while stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. It's unclear whether her love of fishing began during that time or during her childhood, but suffice it to say that she took advantage of the excellent fishing grounds while there. After the war, Helen began raising a family with Ted, living first in Maryland and six years later moving to Falls Church, Virginia. Here she lived for 25 years raising three daughters; Karen, Kathy and Kristie. Although she lived in Virginia for many years, as a true Marylander, Helen was never known to turn down an offer to go out for steamed crabs or crab cakes, and she and her sisters could call you "hon" with the best of them.
Helen loved gardening and got her green thumb from her father "P. A." Her yard was filled with a variety of flowers and flowering bushes, and her vegetable garden yielded tomatoes, zucchini and delicate yellow squash, corn and red raspberries, to name a few. She found yardwork quite therapeutic. Helen's "claim to fame" was growing fully producing peach trees in the back yard from the pit of a peach she enjoyed one summer day and then stuck in the ground. With her blossoming yard came a constant stream of song birds which Helen thoroughly enjoyed feeding and watching throughout her life. She continued her love of fishing with Ted, family and close friends and they were often found up to their waders in a Shenandoah Valley trout stream. On many occasions she came home with the bigger catch.
Helen began working in the Intelligence Community in 1962 and continued in Government service until 1983, when she retired after 21 commendable years of service. In later years, she thoroughly enjoyed her two grandchildren Alexis "Lexie" and Collin. Helen loved attending their sporting events, scouting and school activities and staying involved in their lives. She became "Nana" to everyone.
Helen very much enjoyed traveling with her sister Midge and made some long-time friends from their tour groups. They visited Hawaii, Italy, Ireland, England and Yellowstone National Park. Helen also made a return trip to Alaska where she made sure to take the excursion to fly over the North Pole.
Helen leaves behind daughters Kristie Oberg and Kathleen DiStasio (and husband Albert), grandchildren Alexis Thurlow and Collin Rosenbluth, as well as her brother Robert "Bob" Riggleman and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband Theodore Oberg, daughter Karen Thurlow, her sisters Hazel Scheminant, Mildred Parrott, Betty Graham and her brother William "Bud" Riggleman. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association http://www.alz.org/. Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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Kristi, I am so sorry for the loss of your Mom. Please know that your Mom and your family are in my prayers. Please call on me if you need a friend to help.
So sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Barbara