This memorial website was created in memory of our beloved Helen Sutton. We invite you to share all of your love for Helen here- favorite music, photos, videos, stories. She loved a good story... She will live in our hearts forever.
A celebration of Helen's life was held on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at The Chicano Humanities and Arts Council (CHAC) in Denver, a venue near and dear to Helen.
If you would like to honor Helen, please consider a donation to one of her favorite charities. She had many and here are a few:
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary- https://secure.bestfriends.org/page/contribute/memory
DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital- https://www.dovelewis.org/donate/form/
Denver Center For The Performing Arts- http://www.denvercenter.org/support-us/give-now
Tributes
Leave a tributeLove Leigh.
With love,
Emily May
Dr. Flynn
Is made of what I learned from you.
You are with with me
Like a handprint on my heart.
I love you Pearly.
I keep waiting for the call "Dr. Flynn?" She would say? "This is your beeeloved Dr. Sutton coming your way from my home town of Denverrr". We then scream with laughter and talk for 2-3 hours as if the months in between our last call were all of 5 minutes ago. How many of you reading this are also waiting for her call? Waiting to share thoughts and feelings that you don't share with anyone else in your life? Did she have a nickname for you too? Did you not see her for more than a year but she remembered everything about you down to the finer details? Oh how I miss that love, her laugh, her views on EVERYTHING. No one, not even a therapist, was as good as an hour on the phone with Helen.
All you Helen-lovers out there, know that we are all suffering together. Across the country (across the globe for all I know). I bet every one of us thought we were the only ones that had a special connection with her. Ha! If I've learned anything, over 4000 people have read this site. I bet every single one of us thought we were the only one!!
During our funeral mass, I prayed for her to be at peace. To know she is loved. To know that we would have done anything to have helped. I prayed for her forgiveness since I feel I failed her somehow. I prayed that she is laughing and carrying on in a very inappropriate manner as only she could. We said our so longs. Finally. Begrudgingly. I can't wait to see her again. I have so much to tell her. It's only been four months but I'm keeping good notes. I will be ready to catch up whenever she calls.
Much love to anyone that reads this post and misses her as much as I do.
Dorothy Flynn
I had the pleasure of meeting Helen during my training at AlliedBarton. Helen inspired me to be a better manager by asking that next best question. Helen made me laugh and she will be remembered as a beautiful person. Thank you Helen for making an impact in my life.
Helen RIP - you will be missed by all who you touched.
You will be missed and the world has lost a rare person who is not able to replaced. Your Men-tee Jason Gordon @ AlliedBarton.
I lit a candle for Helen's soul at Notre-Dame, Paris. May she rest knowing the major impact she's made on our lives. Never to be forgotten....
https://youtu.be/AXq0ZyMs3Qk
I always looked forward to our chats because I knew I was going to learn something, I was sure to laugh (sometimes to hard I cried) and I would always walk away with an extra pep in my step because of your energy. even if I missed you and got your voicemail recording of "This is Helen Sutton, coming your way live from (whatever city you were in that day)" I would instantly smile. I used to save your voicemails to listen to when I was in need of a laugh. there were comedy bits filled with love! What I wouldn't give to hear "Master, it's Commander" just one more time but I know your voice is forever etched in my mind. Your spirit is forever with me and my heart is forever grateful for having you as a friend. Rest in peace, sweet Helen. I love and miss you. Commander
I read from several others her mantra of "choose compassion."
It lent to her being one of the most forgiving persons I have ever meant. I couldn't always process how someone could really be like that.
I remember scolding her after she gave away her left kidney that if she started donating arms and legs, I was stepping in. Miss you much
Leigh Mills. ,,one of her fans from CTCA.
I remember as if it were yesterday, your shenanigans on the bus when we had our away basketball games at Arapahoe High School. That was such a fun time in my life and that is how I will remember you....Singing, laughing, prankster, friend, teammate.
Helen I will always remember our last meeting.... You called my name when I walked in the classroom like only YOU could do! You introduced me and said such wonderful things about me when it was really you that made the magic happen in the classroom!!!! You had them eating out of your hand, telling funny stories and giving so much of yourself to enrich others. You will be missed and remembered for the loving and caring person you were and how you made others feel so special.....when it was you that was really special!
With love and admiration ,,,,always !
Helen, I hope you know that you will not be forgotten; instead you'll be remembered forever.
I'll leave you with my favorite memory - Listening to you MC the Richardson Client Forum in 2013. For six hours I sat at Table 1, directly in front of you, literally fearing what you might say next, and laughing at everything you actually said. It was quite a work out. :) Bravo Helen.
Thank you Helen "Sugar" Sutton, you made a difference. xo
Leave a Tribute
Lefty
I received word from Sheri of Helen’s passing. Sheri didn’t know who I was, but had heard of me thru Helen’s conversations. My husband Ryan and are still taking it all in, thinking why? I have known Helen for some 11 years, 9 months and 20 days and yes, she may be gone, but she is still very close to me. My name is Susan Verwest and I am Helen’s kidney recipient. “Lefty” as she called me. Lefty because I received her left kidney. What a fantastic gift of life she gave to Ryan and me. The world has lost a most generous, loving, caring, smart, energetic and humble person. In July 2003, when I received the call from Swedish that I had a kidney donor, I was in shock, when they told me it was a living donor, I decided it was better to stop driving and pull the car over. Non-related anonymous living donor, what? After setting up the donor date operation, all I could think about is the person donating. What type of person does this? What made them decide to donate? Why, why, and more why’s? Even to this day when I tell people of my donated kidney their eyes light up and they are amazed at anyone so generous. It still brings tears to my eyes.
September 15, 2003 - Helen gave me that extra gift of life and we will remember her forever.
After 2-1/2 years and a few correspondences, Helen and Sandy came for a visit in May 2006. I finally meet my ANGEL! We talked for hours; she showed me her scrap book from when she decided to donate her kidney. She told me of her psychological testing to make sure she understood what she was doing. She even told me her story of her last meal and the brownie she savored the night before the surgery. She definitely knew what she doing and you could tell she was happy to do it. She was giving someone a very valuable gift, that extra gift of life.
I now carry that extra gift of life and my Dr., has informed me it is running well. Keep up the maintenance and it can be there for a very long time. Now more than ever I cherish this gift. Helen will be remembered everytime I go to the bathroom :-).
The last time we saw and had contact with Helen was in October 2013. It was our 10 year anniversary; we had a wonderful lunch with her family and close friends. The restaurant staff even sang Happy Anniversary to our kidney, Lefty.
We love you and miss you, but I am so glad to have a part of you with me everyday!
Happy Birthday Helen! I hope you are free of pain and in a better place, your smile, laughter, humor, generosity, and warm heart will be greatly missed. Keep them laughing, as we know everyone needs a good laugh! Love Lefty (All our love, Susan, Ryan and Zella)
The Five Things I Love About Helen
-Her obsession with recurring television shows
-The Scooter tattoo on her boob
-Her willingness to give away parts of herself, literally
-Our Richardson pajama parties
-Just the thought of Helen makes me smile
I love Helen.
I love Helen.
I haven't seen her in many years. I probably spent only a dozen or so times with her in my entire life. We exchanged email messages fairly recently, and also every once in a while.
I thought (and still think) about her often. I've never met a more incredible and impressive person. I described her to friends as ...a person who, when she is in a room, is the person everyone wants to be near -- no matter who is in the room. Her energy is amazing. Her stories incredible.
I love her. I miss her.
Of course, my life will go on. No doubt, very little outwardly will change. I live in another city, and as I said above -- I've not seen her in a long time. But my heart will never be the same. It will have a crack in it that will never heal.
I am so, so sad.
To Helen's family and friends: I am so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how unbearable your pain must be.
Let us all strive to do good things, to be kind, to love each other -- and to think of Helen when we do.
May her Memory always be for a Blessing.
I pray she has found peace.