Jeanne Frances Theobald

In Sacramento on May 30th, 2016, Jeanne passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at the age of 90.  She was born in Modesto, CA on July 1, 1925 to John and Olympia (Pinkie) Willinger.

 Jeanne attended Modesto Junior College and graduated from St. Mary’s School of Nursing in San Francisco. She worked many years in the labor and delivery field both for the hospital and for doctors in private practice.

 She was an active bridge player from an early age and met her soon to be husband, Dave, on a blind date set up by his bridge playing mother and Jeanne’s bridge playing Aunt.  They married in San Francisco in 1953 and settled down in Fresno where their daughters Jane, Ann, Susan and Beth were born.  They eventually moved to Sacramento and made that their home.  Dave and Jeanne celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in May of 2013.

 Jeanne continued her career working in the nursing field. She worked hospital shifts in Fresno and Sacramento when her children were young.  She joined Blood Source (Sacramento Medical Foundation Blood Bank) in 1969 where she enjoyed a long career culminating in the position of Director of Nurses. 

 The family spent summers in Twain Harte, sunning by the lake, playing rounds of golf and late nights of bridge on the cabin deck.  After their retirement Jeanne and Dave enjoyed traveling abroad, including several cruises.

 Jeanne enjoyed playing golf, but her passion was playing bridge.  She participated in several bridge groups including monthly couples, several daytime groups and duplicate bridge which she played with her cousin. Jeanne was active at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, including the Altar Society where she was famous for her hand knit wash clothes and embroidered dish towels.  Jeanne and Dave also spent several years as Volunteer Coordinators for the then Sacramento Jazz Festival. 

 Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband, Dave, her parents, Pinkie and John Willinger, her sisters Evaline Curti, Gladys Surina, her daughter Jane and granddaughter Tamra Benton.  She is survived by daughters Ann (Richard) Petrie, Susan (Greg) Humm, Beth (Tom) Anderson, grandchildren Michael, Ryan, Kathryn and Sean Humm, Blake, Erik and Roxanne Anderson, Paula Enos and Karrie Nye, eight great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren.

 A Vigil Service will be held at W.F. Gormley & Sons Chapel on Monday, June 13 at 7pm. The Funeral Mass will take place at St. Mary’s Church, 1333 58th St. on Tuesday, June 14 at 11am. Jeanne will be interred at Sacramento Valley VA National Cemetery, Dixon, CA. on Wednesday, June 15 at 9:30am.