Resident of San Jose

Margaret Dolores McEnery of San Jose, CA, passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, June 12th surrounded by family and care-givers. She battled pulmonary fibrosis for over two years. Maggie was preceded in heaven by her parents, John P. and Margaret D. McEnery, and her sisters, Theresa, Bengie (Dowling) and Mary (Canepa). She is survived by her brothers, John P. III and Tom McEnery, and, her four children; Theresa (Jim) Cook, Stana (Brian) O’Leary, Benjamin (Kaye) and Oliver (Julie) Herning. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Ruby, Magdalena & James Cook, Sean & Patrick O’Leary, Meghan, Tarah, Bo, Emmet, Olivia & Lola Herning and her ex-husband, George S. “Bud” Herning; in addition to numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Margaret was born in San Jose, CA and lived here for most of her life. Margie, as her brothers called her, attended St. Joseph’s Elementary School, Notre Dame High School before graduating from St. Joseph College of Nursing in San Francisco. She worked as a surgical nurse in Reno, NV for several years before returning to San Jose where she met Bud Herning, who played basketball at Santa Clara University. They married and she was a homemaker for several years while her children were young. Maggie returned to nursing once her children were school-age, at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center; working in the burn unit in addition to other positions. She retired from nursing after 15 years to pursue some of her life-long passions in 1984.

The first of those was completing her education. Margaret graduated from San Jose State University with a bachelor’s degree in business/minor in psychology. Maggie was a golfer from a family of golfers. She was proud of her two holes in one and played regularly for years with Bud, her brother, John, and many friends. Maggie had a love of card games. She was a masters level bridge player who teamed with her sister, Mary, and others. She was a ferocious Texas Hold‘em poker player who took no prisoners at a friendly game or in a casino tournament. Maggie also loved the Santa Clara Broncos Basketball team. She watched SCU for many years. None of those years were happier than when Steve Nash wore the Bronco uniform. In the past decade, her devotion transferred smoothly to Steph Curry, Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors.

Margaret was fun and lived a wonderful life. One of the biggest reasons her life was so complete was that she was a friend of Bill W. for 43 years. Maggie laid the path that many of her family followed – but she was the first! We can never thank her enough for that example of healthy living and service to her fellows. Since her sickness coincided with the Pandemic, Maggie was mostly home-bound the last few years. Her world got smaller but she did not. Her children, extended family, devoted friends and caregivers were truly beneficiaries of her wisdom and good humor these past two years. She especially looked forward to her brother Tom’s visits; as he’d climb over the fence that separated his yard from hers. Margaret was a blessing to all who had the good fortune of being around her.

Memorial services will take place on Tuesday, July 12th at 9:30 am at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, 80 S. Market St, San Jose, CA. Those will be followed be a procession to Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, 490 Lincoln St., Santa Clara, CA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Doctors without Borders. Mail to: Doctors Without Borders USA P.O. Box 5030 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030