Miss Helen Exhaled and Breathed In a New Life

Sunday, March 13th at 2pm, after days in hospice care 98 1/2 year old Miss Helen exhaled her last breath in this mortal world. She lived a full, rich life; loved unconditionally; and modeled perseverance for her family, by not allowing obstacles to block her pursuit of good family life and the enjoyment of piano and calliope entertainment. Miss Helen is known and loved by thousands of riverboat enthusiasts, her children, grandchildren, great grands, and we, her newly-met friends.

Wherever people are familiar with the Delta Queen, the Tacoma, the Tom Greene, the Belle of Louisville, and the Chris Greene, Miss Helen is revered both for her entertaining, as well as for her love of the river and the people it nurtured. I am a late comer to Miss Helen's life, but a devotee nonetheless. Over the months I visited with her; listened to her vivid, life-affirming stories; felt the warmth of her firm handshake; and delighted in her laugh.

Miss Helen wouldn't be human if she only had had good times, but she had a gift of dealing with the difficult things, and then celebrating the good in her life. Late in life her vision clouded, her fingers didn't move as lightly over the piano keys, but she could hear the music just the way it should be played and saw with clarity everything with her mind's eye. Up until August of 2010 Miss Helen played her piano keyboard for up to four hours a day. If she hit a bad note, she'd start over til she "found the right chord." She was proud of the chord sequence she'd arranged for Please Be Kind and could usually be prompted to play it and other tunes that flowed into practiced medleys for Ann, Lyn, Kitty, and Karwyn - her "new friends" sitting with her.

For her family, there are memories of summer trips in the Streamline trailer and the aroma of freshly baked pies, or her stopping whatever chores she was engaged in and playing their favorite games, or bandaging a scrape, or just listening to them.

Yes, she'll be missed but we know she is watching and protecting us. That she sees clearly, remembers every facet, has learned the reasons for different mysteries, and will greet each family member when they are ready to cross over. Her love and her laugh will assure us it's Miss Helen ...