Jane O’Reilly Briskorn
July 18, 1936 - July 09, 2014
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Jane O’Reilly Briskorn
July 18, 1936 - July 09, 2014
Obituary
Mary Jane ‘Janie’ Mascari Penderghast O’Reilly Briskorn
July 18, 1936 – July 9, 2014
Janie Penderghast O’Reilly Briskorn was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 18, 1936 to John and Mary Mascari. Raised in St Louis for her first few years and Chicago for the remainder, Janie Mascari attended Providence High School where she graduated in 1954 and then on to Marquette University in Milwaukee Wisconsin from where she graduated with her BA in 1958. While in college, Janie was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority. Also at Marquette, Janie met and was married to Thomas Penderghast just after graduation in 1958. Janie and Tom Penderghast settled in Long Beach, California where Janie worked as a teacher at Saint Anthony’s High School. Moving to Huntington Beach in 1964, Janie continued to teach in the Garden Grove school district and work in creative writing, having written for children’s television shows including Sesame Street and Sheri Lewis.
Together, they were blessed with five children and married until 1980. While raising her family, Janie obtained her Masters Degree in Communications from Long Beach State.
The Penderghast Family were very active within the Parish of Saint Bonaventure Catholic Church in Huntington Beach and Janie spent much of her free time commentating fashion shows for the Parish as well as in local malls. In addition to teaching at Golden West College and Chapman College, Janie was also head of Religious Education at Saint Anne’s Catholic Church in Laguna Beach where she met Patrick O’Reilly whom she married in 1981. Together they had a very successful career in real estate. An accomplished, award winning writer, Janie published several books as well as screenplays. She led book clubs, bible studies and trips to the Holy Land including multiple treks to Medjugorje. Her passion included painting and decorating.
After the passing of Patrick O’Reilly in 2009, Janie fell in love with Leon ‘Lee’ Briskorn. Married in 2011, they enjoyed close to four blissful years together during their courtship and married life while traveling and working at First Team Real Estate. At the time of her passing, Janie was very active with the Coto de Caza Philharmonic.
Janie is survived by her husband Lee, her brother John Mascari, sister Denise Lawler, her five children Brian Penderghast, Shawna Fallon, Steven Penderghast, Dean Penderghast and Maria Brief, their spouses and fourteen wonderful grandchildren.
Janie believed in family first and was such a bright light to everyone with whom she encountered. She was one of the most positive people on the planet, full of love and joy making everyone around her feel special. Heaven is so blessed to have this new angel, our precious Janie. She will live forever in our hearts.
The funeral will take place on Thursday, July 17, 10am at San Francisco Solano Catholic Church in Rancho Santa Margarita.
24 responses to Jane O’Reilly Briskorn
Cindy Penderghast says:
July 11, 2014
Seeds of Love
(Song for Janie)
(Verse 1) You loved the least of these, never met a stranger
I never saw so many people call you friend
You built a bridge and formed an intimate connection
A waterfall, you poured out everything you had
And you planted seeds of love
(Chorus) You planted seeds of love all over this world
In every heart you touched
A seed remains there to remind us
That love blooms and grows and never needs to fail us
When we unashamedly plant these seeds of love
(Verse 2) Countless tales of how your love made all the difference
Stories flow of fading dreams fanned into flame
Endless love, encouragement and inspiration
A garden grows up from these foot prints you have blazed
As you planted seeds of love, yes you planted seeds of love (to chorus)
(Tag) A legacy of limitless love
Your joy and laughter surrounds and lifts us up
It’s a blossom never fading, life changing
It moves our hearts to
Stand up and break through
To be more like you
And make this world more beautiful
We can make this world more beautiful
(Chorus 2) As we plant seeds of love all over this world
In every heart we touch
A seed remains there to remind us
That love blooms and grows and never needs to fail us
When we unashamedly plant these seeds…
We will unashamedly plant these seeds of love
With all my love, your daughter,
Cindy Penderghast
Jill Dominguez says:
July 12, 2014
Jane holds a special place in my heart. She was my Mom, Sonja’s good friend from her school teaching days in Garden Grove. I must have been 4 or 5 years old when I met her. When I wanted to buy my first house Janie was there for me! She was tireless! She found my dream house and I still own that house to this day! Funny story about how she found this house. We had been looking for quite some time and nothing was right. Then on a Sunday morning she called me and said she had just walked out of church to call me about this house! Something she said she never does. Church was too important but Janie said she knew it was a sign and that was the right house for me. We went to see the property that afternoon. She was right it was love at first sight. Janie, Heaven is blessed to have you! Tell Patrick I said hello!
Jill Dominguez
Ruth Penderghast says:
July 12, 2014
The first time I met Janie, she was celebrating Patrick’s birthday and St Patrick’s Day at an Irish pub in Long Beach. We walked up and Steve introduced me. We sat down and Steve and Patrick got into an immediate conversation. Not knowing what to say, I looked at her and said “I love the color of your pantsuit!”. She laughed that great big laugh of hers and said “Really? Patrick hates it. He says I look like a priest at Lent.” Then she paused and looked at me. I wasn’t laughing because I was shocked to hear her say that. “Do you know what Lent is, dear?” she asked, clearly concerned that I had missed her joke. “Oh, sure I do. I’m Catholic.” Her eyes opened very wide, she grabbed Patrick’s arm and pulled him over to her. “Patrick!” she said, in a stage whisper “Did you hear that? She’s Catholic!” That got me laughing. Janie was the kind of mother-in-law that everyone wishes they had and I was blessed to have in my life for over 20 years. She embraced me as a daughter, loving me and always calling me to say “Ruthie. Now I want to have a conversation with you. I didn’t get a chance to talk to you at the party. So let’s talk. Tell me about …” and we’d talk. I used to tease her that I should call her “Aunt Mame” instead of “Ma” because I could never watch that movie without thinking of her. Her place in my heart will forever be for her alone, never to be filled by any other. And I am so very grateful that her spirit, her joie de vivre and her deep passionate love of family lives on in my daughter. Because that means that Janie will always be with me. Love you forever – your loving ‘Angel on the Christmas Tree’ – Ruthie
Steven Penderghast says:
July 12, 2014
5 files added to the tribute wall
Ann Tack-McClure says:
July 13, 2014
Lit a candle in memory of Jane O’Reilly Briskorn