Matilda Jean Henry

Matilda Jean Saiz Henry was born in Sesser, Illinois, on March 7, 1917. She was the 7th of 8 children born to John Saiz and Frances Planinec Saiz. John and Frances had emigrated to the United States from Austria, and married on Ellis Island on December 23rd, 1907. Before Matilda’s father, John Saiz succumbed to the flu epidemic in 1919, he asked his best friend, Otto Goebel, to take care of his family. Frances survived the flu epidemic to give birth to their last child together, Jeannie Donna Saiz. Frances and Otto were married, had 3 children, and raised all of their children together on a farm, in Sesser, Illinois. The children’s lives were lived in harsh winters, vibrant springs, hard work, school work, and dreams of their futures. Matilda was always surrounded by flower gardens, vegetable gardens, and fruit trees. This would instill in her a lifelong love of gardening.

After graduating from high school Matilda (Tillie) followed her older sisters to Chicago to find employment and adventure. The sisters were very stylish, they were as beautiful as movie stars, and always dressed nicely with pretty hairdos, and hats. Tillie would remain stylish throughout her life, easily changing with the current fashions and always such a beauty.

Tillie and her sister, Donna, married brothers Walter Henry and Carlos Henry, from Wheatland, Missouri. The brothers were in the Navy and served together on submarines during World War II. Walter and Tillie had four children, Walter W. Henry III, Betty Frances Henry, Phillip Terry Henry, and David Lee Henry. When Walter and Carlos were stationed together at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, during the early 1950’s, the family had wonderful times together with the local Mele Akina family, as Tillie’s niece had married Mele Akina, a native Hawaiian. Tillie and her family next moved to Washington DC for two years, and then back to Ohau, Hawaii for three years.

In 1959 when Walter retired from the Navy, Tillie and her family returned to the United States, living in Santa Cruz, California, with her sister June Saiz Markley. Tillie and family then lived near the boardwalk in Santa Cruz, while Walter commuted to Lockheed in Sunnyvale, where he was now employed, while their house was being built in Milpitas, California.

Tillie lived in this house until her death on May 12th, 2013, at the age of 96. She pretty much raised five of her six grandsons in this house and always welcomed friends and family. Tillie had a unique quality of making people feel special and patiently influenced children with books and simple, creative, imaginative artwork and games, making it fun to learn.

Tillie remained close to all of her siblings until their respective deaths. She was best friends with her sisters Donna, Jean, June, Joan, and Edythe throughout their lives.

Matilda is survived by her sister, Donna, of Florida, her brother-in-law, Roy Thomas, of Louisiana, her children, Walt (Dell Raye), Betty (Kenneth), and David. Matilda was preceded in death by her husband, Walter (“W”) of 49 years, and her son, Phillip. She is survived by 11 grandchildren, Kristin Henry, Katherine Ets-Hokin, Annie Haeberle, Kristy Ybarra, Justin Henry, Nicholas Henry, Ryan Henry, Sean Henry, Christopher Henry, Courtney Weaver, and Matthew Henry, and 7 great-grandchildren, Aleq Ybarra, Janae Ybarra, Mathilda Chapin, Samatha Chapin, Xavier Henry, Isaac Henry Ets-Hokin, and Tristin Henry.

Matilda loved books, poetry, flowers, sewing, reading, children, her family….. and lives on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Services were held at Lima Family Mortuary on Warm Springs Blvd in Fremont.