I carry your memorial card in my wallet so I can look at it often and
remember your strength and ability to comfort and all the joy you
brought to me and others.  Your smile is always visible in my memory
of you.  Love,  Mary   

Moms picture with us last year for her 83rd bday...
capturing that precious smile of hers and her love of chocolate cake...
Celebrating with you mom always and the bright spirit of love you radiated,
we will keep passing it on.
unending love,
Colleen 
 

beautiful sharing sent by my friend Matthew, thank you.

Helen took me into her heart from the very start. I'm sure the same is true for anyone she knew.

Her life a trilogy, with focus on god, friends, and family.

Helen never missed a special occasion, writing a card or baking a cake in celebration.

Countless hours, too many to count, volunteering for others who Helen cared about.

Many a meal she prepared in her kitchen, for family gatherings or a soup kitchen.

And, by the way, don't get in Helen's way, she liked to do things her way.

Up early, spatula in hand, making breakfast for her clan.

Her calendar filled by day and night, making our lives sunny and bright.

Faithful and loving to all she knew. Boundless love for all of you!

Her circle, large and full, meaning much to all she knew!

Christmas, that magical time of year, when the decorations would come out and you could feel Helen's cheer. Christmas won't be the same without her here.

She followed her heart it's true, not always listening to me and you, but living her life full and true!

Happy to the end, her heart full and aglow. Having visited Jerusalem, a life long goal.

Her dog Kelly, looking out the window for her friend, not sure when the pain will end.

A void left in our hearts with Helen no longer here, but our lives brighter for knowing Helen Kelly while she was here!

A life fully lived, not a moment wasted. No regrets, no fear, Helen Kelly was here!

Below is a copy of the card/signatures recieved from inmates at San Quentin Prison Catholic Parish.
Michael, Kathy, Sean and I were invited and attended a sunday service on August 18th at the prison where they organized a celebration of her life for all she gave to each of the men there and the parish as a volunteer over the last 8 years.  The service started with her favorite song Danny Boy and ended with so much love and care from so many men there touched by Mom's presence.
Thank you deeply to the parish, Father William and men at San Quentin who honored mom so beautifully.



Helen
You'll Always be in our Hearts

"This beautiful card was made for a beautiful friend.  I want all that see this card to know how much you were loved behind the walls, you will never be forgotten here."

"Helen will always hold a spot in my heart for her contributions to the men in Blue. May God hold her close.  I will see her there. God bless."

"Helen-a special angel. will always be in our thoughts and prayers"

"Thank you Kelly family for sharing Helen with us for a little while.  You have my sincerest condolences"

"Helen, to know you is to be blessed!  You were a mentor, friend and never judged us, you just said, "thats not who you are today".  Thank you for all the love and kindness you gave all of us.  God has one more angel in heaven.   You will be missed and know that you are loved"

"Helen you are in my prayers and I still love you because you were like a second mother to me"

"Helen you are in my prayers and still very much loved everyday"

"Good bye Helen, we will soolly miss you.  Reels in peace."

"A sincere thank you to a wonderful lady who'll be dearly missed.  One of god's angels."

"I miss you but when that happens, I realize you are not far away at all.  You still bring joy to my life always"

"To Helen, thank you so much for your support and inspiration these few years I have known you.  I could always rely and depend on you for a kind word or the warmest of smiles."

"Thank you Helen for the time and gift of love and hope of a society that can forgive my transgressions"

"Thank you for all the love and help"

"Helen, your light will be greatly missed.  We were lucky to have a person like you bless us with your daily gifts of kindness."

"Helen, you are so special to us.  You will be in my heart forever."

"Helen you were like a mom to me, always caring deeply for how I was and you will always be in my thoughts."

"Your mom is amazing"

"Helen was a wonderful gift to all of us"

"You will always be missed and always remembered"

"Helen will be truly missed in so many ways.  She was so full of life and she will always be on my heart."

"Helen, what we once enjoyed and whom we deeply loved, we can never lose, for all we love deeply becomes a part of us"

"Saint Helen will always be in our hearts and on our minds.  Her smile will endure forever."

"Dear family of Helen, what a joy she was in my life.  I called her the "old relic" which became quite a joke between us. God bless you all."

"God bless you all - your mother was such a role model in many lives, we will miss her deeply"

"Thank god to be for the memory of you"

"God blessed us with a wonderful woman and I am so glad I had a chance to be a part of her life."

"It was such a joy to meet you Helen"

"She was such a blessings"

"Helen, Blessed Helen.  Our congragation will always miss you."

"We send you our love and thanks for sharing Helen with us"

"To Helen's family, may god be with you and comfort you as you go through the hardest time in your life"

"Helen is a bright star.  She blessed us with her love and kindness and amazing smile.  She's in the peace but we are missing her. May you continue to feel her presence as we do in the chapel."

"Our forever friend, we love you."












 

A memory from our pilgrimage to the Holy Land when we stayed at 
Lake Tiberias/Sea of Galilee:

The day we visited Capharnaum, we had lunch at the "St. Peter's Fish" restaurant on the Sea of Galilee.  As we were leaving the restaurant, a large group of young men in white habits was entering.   Being curious, I asked them who they were;  they were Irish Seminarians from Dublin.  I told them there was a fine Irish Catholic woman on our tour, but sadly we lost her 3 days ago.  They asked her name. 

Later that afternoon we visited the Primacy of St. Peter and celebrated Sunday mass in a small outdoor area.  As we walked around the church, along came the large group of white-garbed Irish seminarians.  We greeted each other, and they said while they were on the bus they recited the "De Profundis" for Helen Kelly.
So Helen had a entire busload of Irish seminarians praying for her.

One of them was from Trinidad, and he asked us to pray for him when he would be ordained on Aug. 2.  (and I did at Helen's funeral mass on Aug. 2)

I do not have a photo of the seminarians, but I found this video online which gives you an idea of their wonderful spirit and joy. (not sure if this is their actual priory, but probably not more than one in Dublin)

on this website, scroll down to 
"Dominican Snowball fight!" 

http://www.saintsavioursdublin.ie/

may God bless you,

- Joyce

Open attachment. 

Please open both attachments (part 1 and 2).

Helen Anne Kelly

God, pour through me with a prayer for Helen…

The blustering, near-hurricane force winds cleanse

While my father and kin mourn for your

Untimely departure from this earth.

I join you now in spirit, Dear Auntie,

In the Holy Manger in Jerusalem –

Where you recently read scripture,

And where you & I both breathed

The same air within the aged walls.

You traveled here to the BVI first, as family

To christen our home with your presence. 

Today the seas roar, the winds howl

And while the raindrops pour, so do my tears…

Of joy, for having known you and your lively spirit

Which I hope is now, once again, dancing in the arms of Neil…

With Great Great beaming-on and clapping with thunderous applause

Along with the celebrators of your incredible life (my family gathered in California)

And in spirit, I’m there, too!

A “Helen Festival!”  We, too, are celebrating a BVI Festival here, on this same day,

And I’m rejoicing celebrating your “Grand Life” Aunt Helen.

A “Laughing Gull” just hovered at my window –

And when I whistled acknowledgement of its presence,

It hovered awhile longer.

Holy Spirit, may Helen rest in peace,

Knowing she accomplished her bucket list, twice-over

And spread love everywhere she went. 

Now, even the Angels feel her God-given,

Unconditional Love!

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, help Helen feel the same undying-love in return

That she shared with all of us, throughout her life, continuously.

Love,

All A’We

Today we are all here to celebrate Helen Kelly

To begin with there are so many thank you’s Kathy, Colleen, Sean and myself want to say to all of you here today and to all those who wish they could be here today, but were not able. The love and support has been limitless. Our mother obviously touched so many lives , in so many positive ways, in so many parts of the world. As you might be aware mom tried to make her passing as difficult as possible by leaving this earthly plane 7,456 miles away. This was her final earthly journey and her children’s greatest test. Going to the “Holy Land” had long been on her list of must do’s. What we didn’t know was she was going to put it on my list and my brother’s list of “must do’s” too. I remember her talking about going to Jerusalem ten or more years ago. Well she finally made it, and with an incredibly loving group of people, some of which are here today. My brother Sean and I had the pleasure to meet them all and connect with the tour for a few days which helped to bring closure to our mother’s final days.

There is some truth to the lyrics “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”. Human behavior tends to “take for granted” those people, we know, see, and love on a regular basis. We are all guilty of this to some degree. For myself, my siblings, and for all our family and friends who knew our mother, there was a sudden, tremendous void in our lives particularly because her passing was so sudden and so distant. This void can only be filled with time and memories which many of you have shared and continue to share with us.... and not to forget my mother’s 80 or so photo albums.

If you could look Helen Kelly up in a dictionary she would be classified as an “action verb”. A typical conversation with my mother on the phone would go: “Hello mom what’s goin on?” She would typically reply, “ oh not much, have the girls over for dinner tonight...everything OK?” Then I’d say something like “Ya, everything is fine I can call you back tomorrow when you’re not busy, just checking in, thinkin about comin down your way tomorrow”...there would be a pause, then she would say “well actually I’ll be at mass tomorrow morning at San Quentin, then I’m going to the city after that to meet friends for lunch..not sure when I’ll be home, but it probably won’t be till evening...can you come for dinner?” ...”Ok that might work, I’ll call you in the morning to confirm, say hi to Kelly for me” (Kelly was mom’s faithful dog who was probably standing at her feet while she was on the phone)... she would reply with “sure will, love you son” ...”love you too mom”...then just before hangin up.”oh, what do you want for dinner?” and I would say...”Mom, I’ll eat anything, you know that....”, OK then that’s what you’ll get”.. “Ok with me..see you tomorrow”...” Bye Son” “Bye Mom”

Mom could have employed a secretary to help plan her social calendar... I actually saw that calendar the day she left for Israel...it was an 8x12 calendar she kept in a drawer in the kitchen...almost every square in the calendar was filled in from January thru July...she wanted to be sure I would be available for uncle Mike’s 90th BD party at the Irish Cultural Center..... All I could do was laugh...that was mom...the dust never settled on her as long as I can remember...

Despite her age and all the aches and pains that go along with it you would rarely find Helen Kelly sitting around with nothing to do except maybe when she would relax with one of her favorite Harlequin novels or the latest book from her book club. Mom loved working with people. Even after she retired from nursing she kept up that desire to serve others.      If she wasn’t working with a church group, tutoring challenged students, volunteering at a medical clinic, working with a grief support group, or meeting with the prisoners support group at San Quentin, then she was probably planning dinner for a few friends or family, working in the garden, or working on one of her infamous photo albums.            As many of you know mom was rarely seen at any function of any kind without her camera. Somehow this lead to a passionate hobby of putting together photo albums which now fill two large book cases and chronologically date from 1960 to 2013. So if you have any questions about what was going on with the Kelly family and friends during those years there is an 800 number to call at the back of the missalette to make an appointment. Mom took 47 pictures before she passed in Israel which will now become part of the final photo album of 2014. These photo albums led to another infamous hobby of Helen Kelly’s.....THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LETTER!

I’m not exactly sure when she started the Christmas Letter every year, but I’d have to guess some time between Halloween and Thanksgiving as the pile would grow exponentially as the weeks neared Christmas. These letters were actually a written and condensed versions of her photo albums of the particular year involved. I am willing to wager that there is a fairly large contingent of you here today that have received at least a few of these letters that would tell you more about what’s going on with the Kelly family, for that particular year, than you knew about your own family. I looked forward every year to the publication just to see how I was doing, who went on vacation without inviting me , or find out a certain family member now had a belly button ring...

Speaking of Christmas, this was by far Helen Kelly’s favorite Holiday. Ask any of her grandchildren. Once Thanksgiving was gone mom was in her element. The Christmas letters would be in production, the entire house would be decorated to the T, and the tree trimming would be an all day project that would involve some of her children, (whoever was lucky enough to be drafted on a particular day). Many ornaments had “special meanings” dating back to our childhood or even mom’s childhood. And there was often some new attraction like a Santa that greeted you with a voice so loud the neighbors could hear as you entered the house. It took a while to find the OFF button for him....but the real part of Christmas that mom made sure was the most important, was the “gathering” of all her family around her, making sure we all had a gift from her, and letting us know how much we were loved ... I know Christmas will never be the same for us again without her...

I can’t forget to mention Ireland and the names so familiar to the Kelly’s growing up – , there was Harrington, McDonagh, Culhane, O’Calahan, O’Connor, Culloty, Fleming, Burke, O’Leary, Cronin, Prindiville , Guiney, Sheehan, O’Sullivan and Carberry... just to name a few ...they were the foundation from which Helen and Neil began their lives together as a couple and eventually raised a family. These friends and relatives depended on one another, many as immigrants, which created strong bonds and let’s not forget, incredible parties (the details of which depend on whose telling the stories).            Helen Kelly always knew the importance of the Irish community, and in many ways did her best to preserve that connection throughout our lives, not only at home in the States, but also in Ireland itself. Mom told me that when she and dad took Kathy and I back to Ireland in 1960, for three months, she was hooked. Our mother continuously fed this “connection” with letters, pictures, phone calls, and visits. Our cousin Kate Culloty told us on the phone shortly after mom passed that “Helen was more Irish than the Irish themselves”. Mom’s stories of growing up with parents from Ireland, teaching Irish dance and dancing at the KRB in San Francisco are all part of that strong affiliation with the people of Ireland from a young age. The Irish community embraced Helen Kelly as much as she embraced them. So many in Ireland have reached out to us to tell us how special mom was to them, how much they enjoyed her visits and Christmas letters, and how much they will miss her. My siblings and our children have an extensive “Irish Family” that are very much a part of our lives thanks in a large part to our mother’s efforts.

This would be a good time to mention Neil Kelly, “Our father who art in heaven.. (please stay seated) ......So many people have written or told us that they are sure that Mom and Dad are together again dancing as they so loved to do ... No one can be sure of that, but it is a wonderful way to imagine our parents who were an incredible couple as parents, grandparents, and friends to all of you. And as mom would probably say..... you can’t mention Neil Kelly without a bit of humor, so on that note:

An 85 year old couple, having been married almost 60 years, die in a car crash. They had been in good health the last ten years, mainly due to the wife's interest in health food.

When they reached the pearly gates, St. Peter took them to their mansion, which was decked out with a beautiful kitchen and master bath suite with Jacuzzi. As they "oohed and aahed", the old man asked Peter how much all this was going to cost.

"It's free," Peter replied, Remember, this is Heaven."

Next they went out back to see the championship golf course the home backed up to. They would have golfing privileges every day, and each week the course changed to a new one representing the great golf courses on Earth. The old man asked, "What are the green fees?"

"This is heaven," St. Peter replied. "You play for free."

Next they went to the clubhouse and saw the lavish buffet lunch with the cuisine's of the world laid out. "How much to eat?" asked the old man.

"Don't you understand yet?" St. Peter asked. "This is heaven. It's free!" "Well, where are all the low fat and low cholesterol foods?" the old man asked timidly.

"That's the best part...you can eat as much as you like of whatever you like and you never get fat and you never get sick. This is Heaven."

The old man looked at his wife and said, "You and your stupid bran muffins. I could have been here ten years ago!

Speaking of Neil Kelly, he loved to tease mom about all the “nick knacks” she had all over the house... if you’ve ever been to the Kelly house you know what I’m talking about. It is one of Northern California’s grandest “ Nick Knack” museum. Everywhere mom travelled she would find “nick knacks” to buy and bring home and then somehow find a place of honor for it. Even in her last days I was told by a member of the Israel tour group that mom would often be found in the gift shop wherever they stopped. One of my favorite “nick knacks” hangs in a place of honor over the lieu in the downstairs bathroom...it reads... “WORK AS THOUGH YOU DON’T NEED THE MONEY.....LOVE AS THOUGH YOU’VE NEVER BEEN HURT... DANCE AS THOUGH KNOW ONE IS WATCHING” ...It’s my favorite because these are words Helen Kelly lived by..... as we all should.... Mom left 5 grandchildren Siobhan, Ryan, Kelly, Logan ,and Luke, all here today, and all very lucky to have been the grandchildren of such an incredible person as their grandmother. Fortunately, they all have memories of her that will last them the rest of their lives.

Finally, I think mom would have loved this quote:

“ Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, ends with a tear. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one smiling and everyone around you is crying”

Then she would add...now stop your crying and let’s get the celebration started....

Thank you all for being here in celebration of a most beautiful life and mom, Helen Kelly and for all the love and support poured out to us.

Michael, Kathy , Sean and I grew up with a deep sense of family and sharing of life together and it was Mom that always planted that seed and held the “glue” to a most incredible experience of family so it is so healing to have us all gather here for mom as she so loved gathering friends and family to celebrate life and today she is smiling that today it is all for her, not anyone else just her.  She so loved to give the party for everyone else now Mom the party is for you and you are forever with us forever....I will continue to live life to the fullest, with the smiles and open hearted way you so gracefully brought to many.

Helen Kelly, Mom lived her life fully to her last breath, she lived till she died.  No one knew that getting on the plane to the Holy Land was going to be her last flight, yet knowing her she would smile that that was the ending chapter to the beautiful love story she lead in her very own life.  There was nothing that was going to stop my mom from going on this trip she had always long to go to ,The Holy Land.   I said to mom the day before her departure, “Are you sure you will be ok to go and travel all that way?”. and she laughed and said “Colleen don’t worry I will be just fine”, with that smile I just know was on the other side of the phone.  She always held such a strong faith and trust that all was always going to be OK, no matter what life brought so I always believed her.  Her strength and faith was so inspiring and strong we knew not to question it over all the years. 

The day Kathy called me to tell me that mom was dieing in the hospital in Israel from a fall, was a day that changed everything.   I answered the phone saying “hi Helen Kelly” thinking it was Sean calling who was caring for her house and when I heard Kathy's voice my heart dropped.  This Mom I knew that got thru everything and was invinsible in my mind was dieing and all I wanted was to be by her side.  And just as I wrote this, I heard a whisper from Mom that would say, “sweetheart, I will be just fine, I love you and do not worry I know you are there with me always”.  Mom always held her own, she asked for very little and preferred to give.  Her death was a reflection of her life, as she was not one to get old and be dotted over so in many ways she just slipped out before all that could happen. 

That moment I got off the phone and sat with the news of her leaving all that was left was just unending gratitude for a most beautiful mom.  My son Luke, who was there with me when I got the call sat outside with me and tears just poured out with the deepest love for a mom that lived life so abundantly and generously.  We together had gone over to globe to find where Tele Viv hospital (where mom was ) on the Globe was and knew no flight could get us there quick enough yet mom heard love in her heart so well and I knew she would hear us, no distance could stop that from being heard and felt.

The Holy Land is such a symbol of her life as a place to die, because Helen Kelly had a way where her life was like walking in the Holy Land.  She lived in service and love of life and treasured family and all those that were apart of her experience.  She woke up most every morning with a smile, enthusiasm and a small bundle of prayer cards she would repeatedly read and added her own prayers for those in need.  I asked her once, “Who are you praying for? And she had all of us on there in the immediate family and then she went on to speak of people in specific situations and people I had even mentioned to her that were my friends and their situations...My eyes just got wide like "wow Mom that is beautiful"  , there was no one or situation she left out, worldwide or within her circle of connections.  I was so struck how she always made time for it and how big the list of prayers could be.  She also had a head of pink curlers to take out too every morning and it all got done with the bed made and the house and life all in order, there was just time for it all and mom fit it in masterfully.

She traveled the world and life, 

she headed support groups, 

she was on every group possible with the church, 

she tutored youth, 

she headed groups at the prison, 

she hosted dinner parties, 

she was the irish bnb for all the irish visiting, 

she was the tour guide, 

the nurse volunteer, 

Full length xmas letters went out yearly (not a card, a full length letter with everything possibly that could be shared of our family, too much sometimes...she watched old movies and wrote those letters for hours on end every year and loved it.  We have them in a basket for those who want to reminis to see them again, they could be a book.

-Oh and then xmas decorating....The house was picture perfectly decorated each xmas like you were visiting santas workshop (ask Sean and Julie they helped get it all set up after dad passed away which could have involved movers to get it all upstairs from the downstairs....just picture perfect, if only Martha Stewart had met mom;

-And then mom always made sure we came together always for bdays and fun,
so many memories of parties together, she would keep up with us all from toga parties, dance parties, game nites, house boat and ski trips, ireland getaways, easter hunting, all night laughter together and jokes and so much cooking for us!! xxx

-And then there was the famous coffee bday cake showed up for each of us, grandkids included, we got it whether we liked it or not (probably 20 or so made a year, a video is on the website if u want to see a sweet moment with mom where we ate out a piece of it before she put the candles on and she was laughing, such a sport with all of us kids), 

We were so blessed as Mom and all of us came together for Lukes  8th grade graduation in June.  Mom had even gotten Kelly on her lap during the graduation, I do not know how she got in the auditorium with Kelly, and mom amazed me always what she did.  She was so happy to have us all together.  She went to bed that night with only a sheet and a pillow and did not care where she slept as usual, we could have put her on the floor and she would fall asleep....she always told me “I always work everything out in my sleep” and she just always was an amazing sleeper and did work it all out there as Mom did not have much drama, she always moved thru life with ease and did not like to make drama about anything.  She also got to fall asleep peacefully into her death and I so love that Mom got that as it was her place of peace for her.

Lastly as a memory, this last Easter Mom was helping me put our vacation rental room on our land together for me for the guest that was arriving, she was helping me make the bed and so much help as usual, getting the room all ready and I had rose petals leading up to the room and she so loved that so today mom I have rose petals for you to let you know we are ok and our hearts are full of love for you always and will continue to live that love and life you lead so beautifully into ours...following heart petals always in life.

Mom served life to the fullest in all she gave and will forever leave the greatest in print on my heart....Since mom’s passing I  am finding a mothers love is the first love we first encounter at birth and goes so deep. To the mothers that birthed us, deep love to u all and hug them for me if they are still here and if not keep hugging them in the formless that we are always.

I love u mom forever, an unending love for all you gave and the strength of life you mirrored.  Your spirit was so strong and bright and will forever leave an imprint on my life and heart forever....family, love and celebration of life, will continue on in your footsteps and we will hold you and dad there with us always...heart petals forever and smiles that will forever remind me of you.

unending love and gratitude mom,
Colleen 

Helen - the service to honor you was beautiful.  I am sure you are looking down and so proud of Michael and the beautiful eulogy he did for you.  Your family are beautiful and are a credit to you and how you handled life.  I kept looking for you at the celebration afterwards as I still don't believe you are gone.  A few times I thought it was you when someone looked like you from the back and I almost found myself going over to talk to you.  This is the kind of celebration you would arrange and be in the midst of.  I have trouble letting go of you!  Is that okay?  You, me and Maureen were schedule to have lunch at Marin Joe's and you were to bring pictures and tell us all about this trip to the Holy Land.  Now I am hearing all about this trip and it is not what I want to hear.  I suppose we all have a special place in our hearts for those who were there when we needed them and you were that kind of friend to me years ago and again recently when I was delaing with cancer - you checked on me regularly and it made me feel safe.  Why couldn't we have been with you in your last hours - because that is how God arranged it I suppose.

I know you don't want us to be sad so we will carry on and I  am grateful for the time you were here and all you did.    We'll meet again.  Love always, Mary

Helen was there with my family and friends to celebrate our wedding day with love 
and joy.  She was also there in our most grief felt moments losing a young adult 
family member suddenly to honor his life and be with our grief. 

I hope to grow young like she did and travel to the very end of life taking it in and counting my blessings. Her passion and love for life and people will always continue to be remembered in our hearts.  
 
Much Love to Helen and her Family,
Bob and Joan

Helan was my friend when I needed a frind the most.
She was so compaassionate and understanding in a
way that few people do.  I love you Helen and will always
miss you and will always be grateful for your help when I
I needed it most.  I feel like I  have lost a treasured friend.

Love always ,

Mary O'Riordan        

Helen Kelly: A few of our favorite things

A Tribute to Helen from Gayle (Ogle) Weatherby

 Helen’s Decorating Style: Of course, I loved her "decorating style" especially her home. Love it!  I learned about Belleek China at the Kelly home.  I can look at the charming displays of this home for hours. Dolls: I have a few old dolls displayed in my bedroom.  Helen and I both liked dolls.Scrapbooking: I have a box, several boxes in fact. I call them my scrapbooking boxes. I daydream about completing scrapbooks like Helens. Someday my scrapbooks will fill a shelf and I will call it my Helen Kelly Shelf in her memory.  Helen kept those wonderful memories of a” life well lived and fulfilled” in her scrapbooks.A visit by Helen: One summer she graciously attended with us the Owyhee County fair in Homedale, Idaho. This must be the smallest rural fair on earth!  While driving there I was thinking and comparing Homedale and the desert landscape 100 degree weather with Marin County’s Green lush landscaping. Oh! what a contrast it was.   Helen went smiling, of course, and enjoyed every moment.  She purchased a book at the county fair, the exact title escapes me.  I will call it “Idaho Pioneer Women and the Way they Shaped Idaho History”.  I will never forget the purchase, because frankly, it was a book that I would have enjoyed reading too.  Catholic Church in Marsing: This same visit Helen asked me if we had a Catholic church in Marsing.  I told her, well… we had one; but they converted it to a video store, and with the economic  downturn it was now a thrift store.  We did take her about 20 miles to Caldwell for mass at the “brand new Lady of Our Valley”.  I really wished she could have attended the little white Catholic Church, she, like myself, would have loved the simplicity and quaintness of the little church. Christmas Letters: A few years ago I attended a Christmas brunch with friends and one discussion was about “getting those Christmas letters and pictures” and one friend said she really disliked them.  I was stunned, shocked, dismayed, horrified and heartbroken.  How could this be?  I said to my friend, “ well you’ve never had a Christmas letter from Helen Kelly because it is a true reflection of FAITH, LOVE and FAMILY.       

Like everyone else, I was just stunned and extremely saddened yesterday by
the news of Helen¹s death.

This morning I was thinking of her, and I had an image of all these nice
people waiting patiently in line to get into Heaven, and then all of a
sudden Helen comes up in a lane on their left, all by herself, with her
big smile, and proceeds into Heaven from the express lane.

Helen was one of the happiest and most faith-filled people I¹ve ever
known, and those two traits were inextricably intertwined in her
character.  Helen will inspire me for the rest of my life.  I¹ll never be
like her, but she made me want to try.

Blessings,
Janis

 

I remember meeting Mrs. Kelly very briefy on several occasions in the early through mid -1970s. Every time it was as me and Michael were hopping into Tony's black Malibu convertable on our way to do mischef somewhere or perhaps talk revolution. Ok, it was just pickup basketball or football - But it could  have been mischef.

Mrs. Kelly had a nice smile and was very nice to me - the kid who always wore the ripped up T-shirt and shorts. Little moments and kindnesses matter in life and are always remembered and appreciated whenever and wherever you find them in life. It's part of the trace that we leave in life. I know that is certainly true for me.

Her smile and friendliness lives on in her children. Judging only from knowing Michael, she must have been pretty funny too.

I'm lucky to have met her. Thanks.