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
MICHAEL FARMER says:
July 16, 2014
PATRICK O’REILLY LIVED NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER IN BREA.CA , WE WOULD SIT ON MY BALCONY AND HAVE COCKTAILS IN THE EVENING TALKING AND LAUGHING. I CAME HOME EARLY ONE DAY AND I SEE THIS CHARMING LADY VACCUMING HIS APT IN HER SLIP. SO WHEN HE CAME HOME I ASKED IF I COULD HAVE HER CLEAN FOR ME. HE THOUGHT THAT WAS HILARIOUS. SOME TIME LATER I HAD REMARRIED AND WE GOT AN INVITATION TO THEIR WEDDING. IT WAS IN JANIE’S BACKYARD WITH THREE DIFFERENT PREIST, MINISTERS AND A TRAPPIST MONK CUNDUCTING THE SERVICE. SHE WAS AS EBULENT AS EVER SO EXCITED AND CHATTING WITH EVERONE AS SHE STROLLED DOWN THE ASILE. THEN THE DOG GOT OUT AND WAS RUNNING AROUND BARKING LIKE MAD, DOES NOT PHASE HER. THE SERVICE IS OVER AND HER KIDS COME UP TO SING ” YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE” AND AS THEY START FORGETTING THE WORDS, JANIE STEPS OUT AND ASKS EVERYONE TO JOIN IN THE SINGING, TOTALY HAPPY. MEANWHILE PATRICK IS STANDING THERE STUNNED AND WONDERING WHATS NEXT. AND THATS THE GOOD PART JANIE WAS NEXT FOR ALMOST THIRTY YEARS. I TALKED TO PATRICK BACK IN EARLY 2000 AND SAID ” WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING MARRIED TO JANIE” HE RESPONDED ” THAT ITS BEEN GRAND” AND LAUGHED. I AM SURE IT WAS.
I MISS THEM BOTH
MICHAEL FARMER C21
Patrick says:
July 16, 2014
Janie is a beautiful person that brought a tremendous amount of love to all of us.
She embraced everyone and nurtured family and friends. No matter what challenges she faced Janie stood with pride and set an example of love and understanding.
She will be missed.
Patrick Fallon
sheila friedlander says:
July 16, 2014
Jane,
You brought joy to so many people with your generosity of spirit, love of life and other-centered approach. We will miss you. Love Sheila Marty et al
Susan Ranes says:
July 16, 2014
What a great time we had! Janie’s gracious, positive nature pulled everyone into her infectiously welcoming orbit. Never without a good story and always able to find someone she knew or was related to, no matter where in the world she was, Janie’s heart was so big, it is no wonder it finally burst. She will be greatly missed by her family and all her many friends but especially by her beloved Lee, with whom she blissfully intertwined universes a few years ago.
Susie and Dick Ranes
Christine Dow says:
July 20, 2014
Lit a candle in memory of Jane O’Reilly Briskorn