Mrs. Irene Hebsgaard Christensen Hall, of Parksley, who departed this life among devoted family on Thursday, July 19, 2018, was born to Danish immigrants, August and Emma Christensen, in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Oct. 4, 1927. She met the love of her life, John Bloxom Hall, who was stationed in the U.S. Navy in Brooklyn. They later moved to the Eastern Shore after his obligation to the U.S. military was fulfilled, living most of their married years in Bloxom.
Mrs. Hall considered her husband her first priority but cherished her eight children. She loved being a Mom, and Big Mom, to her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, and in addition, always provided shelter and nourishment to others she considered “her children.” Her door was always open to many and never knew a stranger. She said daily that she was “blessed” by her children.
Mrs. Hall was a devout Lutheran, having studied with the minister before confirmation at age 13. She quoted scriptures and was known to quote the Golden Rule daily, and she raised her children with this as their guide in life.
She was predeceased by her husband of 39 years, John Bloxom Hall, who died in 1983; brother, Albert Christensen and his wife, Jean; sister, Norma Christensen; sisters-in-law, Janet Christensen and Virginia Onley; brothers-in-law, Wilson Wessells, Fred Wilt, and Frank Drummond; parents, August and Emma Christensen; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and her godmother, Emma Gomez.
She is survived by her eight children, Janet Hall and Danny Parks, of Parksley, Sandra L. Johnson and husband, Mitchel, of Parksley, Norma H. Hurst and husband, Frank, of Accomac, Darlene H. Drummond and husband, Frankie, of Parksley, John F. Hall and wife, Kathy, of Summerfield, Fla., David A. Hall, of Bloxom, Albert M. Hall and wife, B.J., of Chesapeake, Va., and Roseanna M. Kort, of Bloxom; sister, Eleanor Wilt, of Anderson, Ind.; brother, Donald Christensen, of Long Island, N.Y.; sister-in-law, Ruth Lee Drummond, of Parksley; 15 grandchildren, Jazan Wild and wife, Sharon, Jonathan Barnes, Jonah Parks and wife, Charisse, Amanda Marshall and husband, Steven, Michele Holmes and husband, Larry, Dr. Frank Hurst and wife, Jennifer, Emily Grant and husband, Jeff, Justin Phillips, Kirsten Elebash, Stephanie Laird and husband, Carl, Kyle Hall, Cescile Hall, Chelsea Hall, Ryan Kort and wife, Sarah, and Dylan Kort; and ten great-grandchildren.
An admired attribute of Mrs. Hall’s was that she always saw the good in everyone and never focused on someone’s choices in life. She leaves a legacy of love, caring, devotion and family values.
Respecting her wishes, a public service will not be held. Her family will gather privately. Pastor Billy Huffman and his wife, Evelyn, provided scripture and prayers with her and the family during her last hours.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org/donate), or to Riverside Shore Hospice, P.O. Box 615, Onley, VA 23418, whose services from employees to Mrs. Hall during her last days were essential and comforting.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements were made by the Williams-Parksley Funeral Home.
