Helen Jewett did not like telling her age, and no wonder. She was like this endless bright, incandescent Fall season, giving us day after day of bright sparkling, invigorating display. Not at all like any almost-94-year-old we have ever known.

She was a big part of our lives at the Memorial Foundation. She was more of a partner than donor, full of ideas and interests, eager to receive good and frequent reports on her investments. She was a frequent visitor, dropping by to drop off a book, ask a question, or just sit and visit. There weren’t very many projects here though the years she was not involved in.

Helen first became interested in Childrens Miracle Network and answered phones in the first Telethon 17 years ago. She was an early supporter of Passport to Health, one of the original donors to Childrens Village, having a full and early grasp of the significance and scale of the project. She became interested in the development of the North Star Lodge, and funded what she called “the Bridge of Tranquility” which connects radiation oncolgy to medical oncology.

She was a passionate part of the bi annual Follies, loving to have everyone come together and have such fun. She was always enthused that so many people got up on the stage, and involved. She gave special support to the first fete held at the Congdon “Castle” and delighted in the vintage cars that brought everyone down the long romantic drive to the party. She then played “Derby Queen’ at the Florence Wight Derby party in 2007.

And finally she was adamant that Yakima have a Hospice Facility. Husband Walt died on a weekend in a nursing home and she vowed that that should “not happen to anyone” She made the remarkable founding gift that enable us to “get started” on building a tranquil place for people to spend their last days, and their families to be with them in comfort. This was a project that captured her heart. I promise Helen, we will see this through.

Most of all she was a beloved friend, a beautiful big sister to her little sister Betty, and an angel to the needs of this community. I will find it difficult to not have her to check in with, to see if I am on course, to see her smile.