Helen Annette Drobshoff
October 15, 1926 ~ August 17, 2024
Born in:
Hamtramck, Michigan
Resided in:
Fremont, California
Helen Annette Drobshoff, departed this world peacefully on August 17, 2024. In her 97 years, she touched countless lives over the decades through her love, kindness, God-given wisdom, nurturing spirit and many behind-the-scenes selfless acts. She put her burdens on the shelf and gave of her heart freely and beautifully.
Helen was born in Hamtramck, Michigan to Alexandra and Stanley Jargot. Both her parents came to America individually from Poland through Ellis Island in the early 1900’s. Her father passed away when she was six years old, and she was doubly blessed with a second loving father in John Sokal.
Helen was an avid reader and had a curiosity for many things throughout her life. This led her to traveling on two buses to get to the Royal Oak Pentecostal church on the other side of town to be among teens her age, singing in the choir with a beautiful alto voice, and the inspiration to be in business by going to the Detroit High School of Commerce where she graduated with the Class of 1944. She learned many lessons of how to dress and act for success which she shared with her family and many young people over the years. Helen compassionately volunteered in a local hospital with the American National Red Cross and received an award for Meritorious Service in WWII as a Nurse’s Aide. After graduating, she worked for Chrysler as an Executive Secretary, loving her independence and the ability to buy her first car.
Helen was introduced to George at her church in Royal Oak, Michigan by best friends Ray and Naomi Palmer. After getting out of the service, George came from California to be in an Army buddy’s wedding. After falling in love with Helen and getting married in the church where they first met, the newlyweds honeymooned on the way to California to establish their life together. In the early years while starting a family, they lived in Oakland, Alameda, Castro Valley and Hayward before settling in Fremont in 1962.
As a family, Helen and George packed up the children in a station wagon and spent much time at the beaches, the State and National Parks, and all over California, the United States, Canada and Mexico, instilling the love of adventure. Later in life, they traveled the world exploring the nooks and crannies of many countries around the world, wanting to be among the locals to experience life with them, and personally helping missionaries in Costa Rica, Russia, England and Scotland, while financially supporting many more from home.
Her legacy is reflective of her nurturing spirit in even the smallest things such as her garden of brightly colored flowers and plants. She could take a cutting of a plant from anywhere, plant it in her garden and it blossomed with her care.
A “song of the day” woke up with Helen each morning. Though she wasn’t in her own bed when she left this world, the song, “Peace, peace, wonderful peace…” emanated from her room and into the hearts of family that morning.
She was the calm, quieting heart and soul of her family, friends and many who called her “Mom”, and she will be dearly missed.
Preceded in death by George Drobshoff, her loving husband for 62 memorable years. Her legacy of love, sacrifice and unselfishly giving of herself lives on in her children: Georgia Ray (Danny); Jean Remer (Fred-deceased); Alice Gatz (Don); Paula Rhoades (Mike); Alex Drobshoff (Angie). Grandchildren David Ray; Beverly McManus; Kristi Yarbrough; Tawni Escudero; Scott Shoemake; Andrew Remer; Ben Yarbrough; David Drobshoff. Great-grandchildren Eden, Huntley and Holden Shoemake; Rori, Lincoln and Jack Escudero; Colin and Damon (deceased) McManus; and Elijah Yarbrough. Her many nieces, nephews, those who called her Mom or Grandma, numerous friends and loved ones, will treasure her memory and she will remain in their hearts.
Friends wishing to honor Helen “Mom” in lieu of flowers are invited to make a donation in her name to various missions projects through the Coast Church http://www.coastchurch.com/give or an organization/charity of their choice.
Services
Visitation: August 30, 2024 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Room: Garden Chapel
Berge Pappas Smith Chapel of the Angels
40842 Fremont Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94538
510-656-1226
https://www.bergepappassmith.com
Funeral Service: August 31, 2024 10:00 am
Room: Garden Chapel
Berge Pappas Smith Chapel of the Angels
40842 Fremont Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94538
510-656-1226
https://www.bergepappassmith.com
Burial: August 31, 2024 2:00 pm
Room: Graveside
Skylawn Memorial Park
Hwy 92 @ Rte 35
San Mateo, CA 94402
650-349-4411
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My most precious Mother has received her well-deserved heavenly crown and is at rest in the everlasting arms of Jesus.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.
Our hearts are with our Pastor Scott, Sis Cheryl Shoemake & Family. Also our Pastor’s Mom, Sis Paula & her husband Bro Michael Rhoades who we love dearly.
Your sweet Mom & Grandmother is sitting in Heavenly places with her King and will be missed by all until that great reunion in the sky!
My beautiful mother who shared her heart of gold with countless family, friends, and strangers has left her mark in this world. She set a shining example of love, compassion, grace and Godliness for us to follow. I will treasure her in my heart and hear her voice of wisdom as I go through the remaining days of my life. I love you, mom!❤️
As a young girl I remember Sis. Drobshoff as a quiet lady with such a sweet spirit. She is what I would call someone with quiet strength. I’m thankful for people like her who you could feel the love of Jesus shining through. I know she will be missed, but she is surrounded by those she loves, and she’s in the arms of Jesus!
Sister Drobshoff, as we called her went to our church in Oakland California when I was preteen. They moved to Fremont when I was 13 years old. One of my memories is going to their home on Sunday afternoon and spending the day Jumping on the trampolines next-door to their home-One of my favorite things to do. They were closed on Sunday so Georgia and Jeannie and I were the only ones there. Sister Drobshoff was Always kind and welcoming. What an amazing life she lived. May God comfort the family.
I spent the day visiting her and Brother Drobshoff with Sister Marilyn Gazowski.. They laughed and talked about the remarkable friendship they shared through the years. Sister Drobshoff was so kind and offered me something to eat, Sister Marilyn was so excited to see them and forget about food!
I have been deeply impacted by the kindness of Sister Drobshoff, I loved her so much and cried when we heard she had left this world. There is not another one like her, she was in a class of her own. She will be missed.
I only know Helen through the stories Alice shared with us about her kindness and love of life. So happy to have known of her and the inspiration she was to so many. May she rest peacefully in God’s loving presence.
praying for you 🙏 ❤️.
We would stop by to visit her. She was always full of motherly Love. I know we have a time to be born and a time to die. She is now with Our God Jesus 🙏🏽
I’m missing her already.
She will B forever in our hearts 💕 and I can’t wait till I see her in Glory
I LOVE U MY MOMMA D
She will always be remembered, and may her legacy live on until the Lord’s coming. My prayers of peace and comfort to the beloved family, including Sister Jean, Sister Georgia, Andrew, David, and Brother Danny.
I was also blessed to call her “Mom Drobshoff”. When my own mom Julia Gavrilis received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, Mom Drobshoff was right there by her side. 💖🙏🏼
Mom Drobshoff also saved our wedding day! We had invited 400 people, and all of the rented tables, chairs & tablecloths were delivered & stacked up in the Church courtyard early that Saturday morning. A few hours before our wedding, my wonderful husband-to-be stopped by the church to see how the Reception Set-Up was going….only thing was, I had totally forgotten to organize a Set-Up Crew! 😲
So all by himself, Ron started to set up……but MIRACULOUSLY, Sis Dropshoff showed up at the church soon after he did. He told her what happened and she told him “Ron, today is your wedding day, you should not be doing this!” and she shooed him away. Somehow that amazing Woman of God recruited a Set-Up Crew in that short of time, and it all looked BEAUTIFUL! We are forever grateful for her saving our special day!
When both of my parents left the Greek Orthodox church and came to Apostolic truth, Bro & Sis Drobshoff were faithful friends to them. So many beautiful memories of them both are flooding my mind right now, and I could write for hours, but I’ll end it by saying “I love you and I thank you Bro & Sis Drobshoff and I am so excited to one day spend eternity with you as we all join together around the throne of our wonderful One True God – Jesus Christ.”