BERLIN — Helen Magdalene Manning, an avid traveler and seeker of new and exciting places departed on a final and most wonderful journey on Thursday, Feb. 16. She left us to join her mother and dad, Helen and Wilson (Buddy) Meyers, her much loved mother-in-law Ressie Manning and a host of angels known as aunts and uncles.

Manning leaves behind her faithful traveling companion of fifty four years, her husband Robert (Bobby Ray) Manning, her always loving partner and best friend.

Manning is also leaving behind her dearly beloved children, her daughter Robin Ann Rickett, a constant angel of mercy in her final days, her son-in law Raymond Eugene Rickett, her son Stephen Patrick Manning and daughter-in law Adalia Duites Manning, and, her treasured grandchildren, Joseph and Michael Manning, Alexis Marie Rickett and Trevor Rickett. Helen will meet her recently departed grandchild, Raymond Eugene Rickett III on the way to her final destination.

In preparation for this journey, Manning has been attended by a special group of sisters, Bertha Paul and Constance Balasone and a retinue of nieces and nephews; Michael Paul and wife Lisa, Angela Paul and husband Richard Miller, Mary Ann and husband Ron Diamond, Christine and her husband Cameron Chehreh, Kathleen and her husband Mike Shaffer, Tony Paul Jr, Melissa Saffran, and Neil Saffran.

Also attending Helen for this trip are her most wonderful grand nieces and nephews, Jaime, Marlyn Cameron, Collin, Brandon, Garrett, Tyler, Amanda, Jessica, Matthew, Chelsea, Noah and Camryn (Toulah).

She is being seen off on this voyage by her very special friends Barbara Litz, husband Elmer  and Brenda Davidson.

Manning started her life’s trip in Southwest Baltimore on Gilmore St on February 12, 1940, attended St Martins Catholic grade school, graduating from Mother Seton High school in 1958. A young former Marine named Bob swept her up and they were married in June 1959. What a beautiful relationship was formed with the addition of Stephen and Robin in 1962 and 1966.

Together, this family of four traveled from Maryland to the Carolinas, Ohio, Michigan, California, Illinois, Florida, Texas, Toronto, Montreal, Niagara Falls and all points in between. Trips to Hawaii, Paris France, Cannes, Monte Carlo Venice, Rome, and Ramstein Germany to visit Stephen remain the highlight of her life.

Helen was a rock and roller in the fifties, a hippie in the sixties, a mom and homemaker in the seventies and eighties, and a lovable companion and grandmother in the nineties and beyond.

Travel, movies, antiquing and home decorating were her passions as was witnessed by all to visit Helen’s home. Her husband Bob says “Helen never met a yard sale or antique shop she didn’t like and I think we saw them all.”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that commensurate donations be made to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Shock Trauma Center: UMMS Foundation 110 S. Paca St, 9th floor, Baltimore, MD 21201 or: Coastal Hospice, P.O.1733 Salisbury, MD 21804. Funeral arrangements are private and a Memorial service and wake is planned. Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.