Let Me Introduce You To Helen Fitzpatrick

[matcom]

Helen Fitzpatrick was my neighbor. She lived her whole life here in Massachusetts and spent the last 57 years in the house directly across the street from mine where she raised 7 children. She was a nurse for more than 40 years and her door was always open, for anyone.

We moved into our house, 7 years ago on Halloween. We knew nobody in this neighborhood at the time. By the time we closed on the house, got the movers to unload our worldly possessions, it was evening. The temperature was in the mid 30's and a steady rain had turned into a wind driven downpoar. In fact, the rain was falling sideways. Mrs Matcom and I had rooms full of boxes, no bed to sleep in (it was not yet set up) and a full night of unpacking ahead of us.

A quick trip to Wendy's provided a warm dinner and we were back at it. Unpacking and although we were tired, exhuberent to be finally in our first house.

At 10:30 pm we heard a knock at our front door. A little aprehensive and not really knowing my surroundings, I opened it to find a tiny white haired woman, wrinkled and febel, fighting her umbrella which had been flipped inside out by the wind, standing on my front porch, exposed to the elements. she looked about 110 but i later learned
she was the ripe young age of 88. she was soaking and freezing.

i begged her to come in but she politely refused as according to her, "we had more than enough to do that evening".

she had baked a pie. an Apple Pie. and on this horrible night of nights, with the sideways rain and chilling wind, she wanted us to have it hot, right out of the oven. she wouldn't come in, rather she just wanted to welcome us to our new neighborhood.

over the years, i helped out when ever i could, raking her leaves, fixing her furnace, helping her when she fell. we attended her husband's (Francis) funeral and bought party platters for the kids (they are all older than me) so they would have something to eat after the wake. she touched damn near every life in the entire state of Massachusetts at one time or another and was sharp as a tack to the very end.

she died today at the age of 95. she was the grandmother i never knew. she was a gem and all that is right with this world.

Goodbye Helen. you were loved by more than your family and you will be sorely missed.

Peace.

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. I was quite taken aback when I saw your subject line, matcom,

because I have a cousin with the same name. What a nice tribute to a good neighbor who welcomed you to your house.

[TennesseeWalker]

2. Congratulations to Helen on a life well lived.

May we all be so honorable.

[peacefreak]

3. Thank you for telling us about her.

What a gift it is to be a friend to all. You were very lucky to know
her.

[scarlet_owl]

4. We need more Helens in the world.

I'm sorry about your loss of this lovely person. If there is a heaven, I'm sure she just walked on in. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story with us, matcom.

[supernova]

5. Thank you for telling us

about Helen Fitzpatrick, Matcom. Sounds like you loved her very much. :loveya: And she needed you too.

She sounds like a wonderful person. I can just imagine her standing there at your door.

Here's to all the Helen Fitzpatricks on the earth. May we all get to know a little of their magic and give it back.

[corarose]

6. You touched my heart

What got to me the most was the line "she was the grandmother i never knew".

My Grandmother died when I was 4 years old and I know what you mean by this. I always envied kids that had warm loving Grandmothers.

I know that you will miss her.

[catzies]

7. Rest in peace, Helen Fitzpatrick.

Lovely story that brought a tear to my eye, matcom. Thanks for sharing.

[populistmom]

8. Sounds like a great lady

And a real asset to your community. I'm sure she'll be missed.

[Robb]

9. Thirty Helens agree:

This was a very good one. Thanks for sharing her with us! :)

[latebloomer]

10. Sounds like you were lucky to have each other.

Thanks for the moving story, matcom!

[Khephra]

11. Thank you for the introduction

She sounds like one wonderful lady!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

12. She sounded like a wonderful person

how sad for you, her family and the community.

[matcom]

13. you all won't mind if i KICK THIS

i hope not

[VelmaD]

14. I'm sorry for your loss.

What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it with us. I'm sorry you lost such a friend but you sound like you have wonderful memories to hold onto.

Pax.
DV

[Don_G]

15. A Very Rare And Very Special Lady

n/t

[matcom]

16. just returned from her Wake

she looked so beautiful. exactly what she would have wanted.

there were HUNDREDS of pics of her with her LARGE family. some other tidbits:

EVERY Halloween, for 57 years, she dressed up for the kids to hand out candy.

there were pics of her (all 5'2") dressed up as clowns, pumpkins, elfs, etc....

she is survived by SEVEN children, 13 grandkids, more neices and nephews to count. they were ALL at the funeral home.

we stood in line, out in the freezing cold for more than an hour. before we went, we brought platters of food for the "kids" (they are all older than i) over to the house for when they get home from the wake, just as we did when her husband Francis died 2 years ago.

Goodby Helen. I know somehow you are reading this right now so I just want to tell you that you were more than just a neighbor to me and Mrs Matcom.

we loved you dearly and we will never forget you.

Peace wherever you are

[VelmaD]

17. Oh, the Halloween pics...

are so neat. What a great way to remember someone at their wake. She sounds like someone we all would have adored. Sorry again for your loss. :hug:

[Plaid Adder]

18. Aw, what a great tribute.

Was the the one you posted about during the Great Duct Tape Frenzy who was freaking out? Or was that a different elderly neighbor?

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[matcom]

19. heh. forgot about that one

you have a memory like an eleph.... oh nevermind.

different neighbor but you just brought a smile to my face tonight

:D

[Plaid Adder]

20. Glad I could help.

I remember that particular post because I was already thinking about how freaked out my own grandmother would have been. In fact, I mentioned it in a thingy on my livejournal this Sep. 11:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/plaidder/25839.html

You never know whose mind you imprint,

The Plaid Adder

[soleft]

21. You made me feel like I wish she'd been my neighbor and

made me feel like that's the kind of neighbor I'd like to be.

[ikojo]

22. Spending your dash

For Helen Fitzpatrick....who spent her dash very well

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend,

He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From beginning to the end.
He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years. (1930-1998)
For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth. . .
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own;
The cars. . . the house. . .the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard. . .
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left.
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile. . .
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a while.
So, when your eulogy's being read
With your life's actions to rehash. . .
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

Anonymous











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[matcom]

23. thank you.

THANK YOU FOR THIS!

just printed it out and left it on the Fitzpatrick family table along with the food we bought for them for after the wake.

i don't know what to say but

THANK YOU

[jonnyblitz]

24. helen struck gold

when she knocked on your and Mrs. Matcom's door. Anybody that gets out of his car in the pouring rain, or whatever crappy weather it was at that time, to hug every anti-war protester standing there on a MA suberb street corner ( I will always remember that thread of yours)is the best. You get what you give. This is a nice thread to share with us although I know you are probably sad. I had quite a visual of Helen at your door late at night with the pouring rain and the apple pie fumbling with her umbrella. :hi:

[matcom]

25. thank you Jonny

i don't know what might come of my 'grandmotherly' love for Helen but she truly touched our lives.

i only hope, that in some small way, we were able to touch hers as well. i can honestly say that helping this great woman through everyday life has been more rewarding than anything else in my 34 years.

and PEACE to you brother for being there on Mass Ave, protesting this asshole like you did, and are.

YOU are a true patriot for your efforts. never forget that. and all i ask is.... (even though you may not have known her...)

NEVER forget Helen.

PEACE

[Missy Vixen]

26. Here's to Mrs. Fitzpatrick

A warm piece of apple pie, and an even warmer hug. Matcom, I'll bet she considered you and Mrs. Matcom two of her "kids", too.

God bless such a wonderful woman, and I'll think of her (and many more like her we're privileged to know,) when I think of how I'm spending my "dash".

Julie

[brook]

27. It's sweet of you...

to share your memories of Helen with us today, matcom. How lucky you both were these past few years - for I'm certain she treasured you as well. When we're not even looking sometimes life hands us a solid gold nugget like Helen. You'll find yourself doing something one day- maybe years from now -like dressing up to scare the trick 'n treaters - because of her impact on you. Happy Heaven, Helen. Peace.