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Some of the folks at the service requested this. If you have any memories of Helene you would like to share, they would be welcomed. She was one of a kind, a very special woman. We will all misser.
Memories of Aunt Helene
She was one of my favorite people
I remember her like snapshots, brief moments that flash before me, as I say good-bye,
I remember her when I was very young, remember her always making me laugh. Taking care of me when I was a baby, when I had bronchitis.
She was a nurse, and a natural care-giver. I remember her being involved in the care-taking of her parents, Harry & Saydie, and of all her siblings, on many levels, remember that she visited her brothers and sisters when they became ill, or invited them to her home to take care of them
Youngest daughter of the Clevenson clan, she had a huge heart, and took pride in remembering the history of each family member. For many years she remembered the achievements of every member of her family, and was the one who carried the family history to share with all of the others, especially my father, whenever they got together, they would recall jokes and stories, told over and over again, with reverence, humor, and deep respect, for Harry and Saydie, for Anne, Manny, their sons, Ruth, Gary, their daughters, Lee, Jack, their kids...for everyone, she carried a lot of the load of remembering. Glimpses of memory flash before my eyes like photographs- Aunt Helene cooking in Harry & Saydie’s kitchen. Aunt Helene gathering vegetables and fruits from Harry & Saydie’s garden, Aunt Helene laughing, with that ear to ear grin, and musical voice. Aunt Helene, present at every wedding and birth, every celebration of life, every happy happening, and every sad event that needed someone like her to take the pain away.
Aunt Helene, popping her head around a door to ask: “What’s Doin’?” And to reply when asked, “How are you?” ...... “Fat and Happy.” Aunt Helene. taking pictures, and instead of saying “Cheese” to make people smile for the camera, she’d say “Say SHIT...” worked every time to make people smile.
She was so intelligent, so quick, and bright as a penny. Sharp witted and sharp-tongued, funny, so funny, and so ready to enjoy life, to celebrate a good time, to find the best in people. When people showed her their worst, she would let them go out of her life. But when they showed their best, she embraced them accepted them, took them into her huge generous heart and spirit, forever, and eagerly looked forward to seeing them again, to hear what “MAHVELOUS” things they had done. The words “Mahvelous“, and “Wonderful” were a basic part of her vocabulary...she always made people feel good about themselves. She had an enthusiasm and energy that were exceptional, a joy for life. And seing her made you want to do things that were exceptional, :MAH-velous", and "WON-derful."
She inspired in me the creative, the expressive, and the outspoken cynic. She inspired truthfulness and honesty. She was a loving wife and mother, and so devoted to Janet and Rich, so proud of both of them, for all their outstanding accomplishments. She inspired both Rich and Janet to achieve, to go beyond their own expectations of themselves. Janet made us all so proud to become an engineer, and Rich has made us all so proud to take over the responsibilities of being the caretaker of 135 Pleasant Street. Both of you should be very proud to have had such amazing parents as Helene and Bernie, especially Helene, a feminist, a humorist, a loving mother and wife, a humorist, a care-taking nurse, a nurturing, funny woman, wordly, wise, compassionate, and someone quick to see the pompous and false in our society, someone who fought the good fight of being real, sincere, truthful, down-to-earth, and sympathetic. Her generosity was unconditional.
She was a great friend to my brother, David, and to my father, Henry. Both could talk with her comfortably about things that were hard to discuss with anyone else. I am so grateful to her, for all the gifts she gave to my father and brother, and to my step-mother, Sally, especially, but also for all she gave to me, just by her example. I hope to be as feisty, honest, and caring as she has always been. She was a friend to my mother, Rita, when others turned their back on her. She was a friend to many who felt rejected.
She had a huge heart, and a funny disposition. And a laugh that made the world a better place to be in. She devoured books, had a curiosity about all things, and was inquisitive about all kinds of people.
Her grace, and sense of humor, her artistic sensitivity, will certainly be missed. We can honor her by remembering her memory. Her spirit is huge, and I pray that she finds peace in reuniting with her father and mother who went before, her brothers and sisters who welcome her to a new home, in a place where grace and humor, love and dignity, truth and honor, surround her in light, enlightenment, and eternal laughter. Where ignorance and bias have no place.
I will hear her laughter and see her smile in my memory for the rest of my life, and honor her life by trying to be like her.
I pray you rest in peace, dear, sweet Aunt Helene.
Light a candle for her, and for those who've gone before, and honor her with a moment of memory. If you have a memory you'd like to share with others on this e-mail, please feel free to do so.
With love and affection,
Deena Clevenson
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