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
Bruce Mac Vicar says:
July 13, 2014
Not to worry. Janie is upstairs with her new Broker lining up great deals on new mansions for the rest of us. We are gifts to each other and God gave us the gift of love when he put Janie in our lives. Her loss in “real time” is a void that can’t be filled; thankfully, our memories are saturated with her vitality. Bruce & Ann Mac Vicar
Katie Mantineo Wills says:
July 13, 2014
Janie was my ‘Medjugorje Mama’. I had the privilege of being on two pilgrimages with her and she made me feel like family. She was truly a blessing and a gift to everyone she met and will be greatly missed. I know that she is celebrating with God and all of her loved ones. Please know that you are all in my prayers.
Norma Spinney says:
July 13, 2014
I will always be grateful for our Friday evening of a movie and dinner with Lee and Janie. We laughed over barging in on the engineer from Kentucky (a place to sit) and then we were whisked off to dissect the movie and enjoy our dinner. We will never forget the movie either. Tammy, with Melissa McCarthy and Susan Saradan playing her drunken granny. What adventures they had and some potty mouth, but not nearly as bad as mine would have been in like circumstances. lol We had such fun and she was telling us all about spending a week with Kathy and Mike up in their new home. Then she told us about the planned driving trip with the family to Yellowstone National Park. She was so incredibly happy Friday night and we were too, just to be with her and Lee. She had four years of absolute bliss with Lee and more than many have in a lifetime, ,jammed into those four years. I had a blessing last night in Long Beach at the Beauty and the Beast performance. I was half nodding off and i heard her voice in my ear…hey girlfriend…stay awake…you don’t want to miss this…these kids are grand! She was enjoying the show as much as we were. Janie Janie Janie…you are still in our lives…and
we love you so much. hugs and kisses, Norma and Louie
sharon bourke says:
July 13, 2014
I am so sorry to hear of Janie’s death. She was always so full of life and fun to be with. We’ve been friends since 1951-attended Providence High School together in Chicago. Loved her and her family. I will miss her and my visits out to see her. Sending my warmest thoughts and sympathies to her entire family.
Sharon Tobin Bourke
vanessa says:
July 14, 2014
“They whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before. They are now wherever we are.” St. John Chrysostom
Janie’s bright smile, embracing heart, will be greatly missed by all.
It was a taste of heavenly joy knowing her for the past 4 years! She not only had a gift of writing, but the gift of hospitality!
We love you Janie!
Vanessa and Craig Lowe