Helena Allison

Helena, Jacoba Allison (aka Jackie)  1935-2024  Jackie was born on January 26, 1935 in Stutterheim, South Africa to Helena and Casper Fourie. Jackie was one of seven children.  After graduating, she joined the Sea Rangers and when she turned 21, she was eligible to apply as a flight attendant with South African Airways. This was an elite position in those days and the airline was very strict on their guidelines to become a flight attendant. Jackie and one other applicant were the only two picked from a line of others to become flight attendants.  Jackie met her future husband Alex le Roux, who was also employed by South African Airways at the time. He was a co-pilot and then worked as an air traffic controller. They decided to get married in 1958 and had six children named Antoinette, Welda, Alexander, Helen, Francois and Riaan.  Jackie had 15 grand children and later 4 great grandchildren whom she adored. She loved being around children and interacted with them on a regular basis by playing, laughing, reading, swimming and involving them by baking cookies and hanging out in the kitchen with her.  Jackie’s husband, Alex passed away prematurely at the age of 63 and the family decided it was in her best interest to move to the United States where her oldest daughter Antoinette lived.  Jackie met Melvin Allison a few years later and it was indeed love at first sight. They became inseparable and got married on June 27th, 2009. They loved to travel and enjoyed the outdoors. They loved camping, riding bicycles and cruising on the motorcycle.  Jackie and Melvin had a great and very special relationship and Jackie accepted Melvin’s side of the family like her own.  Jackie was one of the most amazing mothers anyone could ask for! She was a caring, empathetic and loving person. Everyone gravitated towards her.  Jackie was strong in her faith and it gives us great comfort to know that her spirit is in a heavenly place.  Jackie will be greatly missed by all that knew her.