Rachel Wierda
I met Helen before I was 1 year old and she 'shyly' asked my mother if she could hold me. She was dating my brother Bill at the time. I am so happy that my mother, Anna, shared that story with me. Looking back over my own 75 years of life I have so many pleasant memories of times I spent with Helen - in large family gatherings, later as couple (Bill and Helen and Jim and I) in various parts of the country and as "sister/girlfriends". I am so grateful that just a few weeks before Helen died she and I had a rather lengthy phone conversation that was down to earth and with a few laughs thrown into the mix and I felt we communicated like past times. First and foremost she was a fantastic mother and grandmother, fantastic cook, a woman with a lovely humor and infectious laugh, and a very gifted pianist/organist who played at our wedding and also by tape at our son Tyler's memorial in CA. I will miss her and her Beloved Bill as long as I live, but will hold them in my heart forever until we meet again. Thank you, God, for putting Helen on this Earth to enrich my life and the lives of so many in her own quiet way. Neither of us had birth sisters, but we had each other and that's good enough for me. Love you, Rachel - Jim and Trever too I like to think Tyler is glad to see you again,
