Helen Jayne Macrae
November 4, 1926 — March 14, 2019
Helen entered God's heavenly embrace on March 14, 2019. She was born on November 4, 1926 in Youngstown, Ohio to her parents Frances and Jacob Sherlock. She was the second youngest of six children, Anelle, Mary Francis, Stella Martin and her youngest sister Sophia. Music filled the Sherlock home. Papa Sherlock was a master violin maker as well has a brilliant musician. The children were all gifted singers and musicians who would rather perfect their harmony than eat as Helen tells it.
In 1946 the Sherlocks all piled into a sedan and took Route 66 all the way to California. Their first home was a beach house in Belmont Shore. Helen loved her new life by the ocean but music was her love and she and her sisters formed a singing trio known as the Sherlock Sisters. They sang for weddings, benefits, USO shows for the Navy and Air Force. Beyond their professional career they also sang in the choir at St. Bartholomew Church in Belmont Shore. They contined singing every Easter and Christmas for the next 28 years!
Helen worked at Naples Grand Market as a checker and it was there that she met Bob MacRae in 1950. They were married in 1951 and started their family and eventually settled in East Long Beach two blocks from St. Cornelius Church. While raising her family and working at Market Basket she still found time to sing with her sisters and perform in the parish musicals and was also in the church choir. Helen was always proud of the music that she and her sisters performed for others but she claims to be most proud of how she raised her four children with strong faith in God and good hearts.
Helen will be remembered by her beautiful smile, her infections laughter, her warm embrace and that velvety alto voice in perfect harmony. She is survived by her four children, Valerie, Robbie (Heidi), Bruce and Barry, and her seven grandchildren Timarie (Russ), Meghan, Nicholas (Ashley), Jacob, Olivia (Allan), Emily, and Chloe, and her great grandson, Landon.
Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401
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