Life these days seems not nearly so exciting as afternoons were a few years ago when so many went out to the pool in the afternoon. Then, seating around the pool and under the lanai was a premium. In those days, Helen O’Brien came to the pool most every day, enjoyed the sun, and administered her home-spun medical advice. Her neck massages were “to die for.” And far be it for anyone’s attempt to leave the pool area without straightening the chairs and chaise lounges. Helen, or as I called her, “Little Hell-yun,” saw to it that the place was in ship shape before the last person left. “Do you all think you live in some kind of a resort?”, she would huff and puff, trying to sound ornery. Instead, she endeared herself to most everyone.
Helen first came to the Village in 1993 from Colorado Springs. She and her son Raymond drove down in her little red car. She purchased #27, and has been happily residing there ever since.
She was born in Lilly, Pa. on September 11 1925. Shortly thereafter, her father was killed in a coal mining accident, and left his wife with 15 children. When her oldest son met and married a girl from Detroit, he moved there. Helen’s mom soon followed with the family, though five of the sons were then in the military. Helen had asthma as a child, so the weather coming from Pa. to Detroit was not much of an improvement for her health. She missed countless days of school because the one mile hike was often too much for her.
Helen married at a young age to the handsome young Detroit Policeman, James O’Brien . She bore six children: James W., age 65 from Rochester Hills, Mi., Dennis, 62, of Gaylord, Mi., Dianne, 60 of Mesa, Keith 59, of Washington Township, Mi., Raymond, 58, of Colorado Springs, and Patrick, 57, of Mesa. From that beautiful family came 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Helen gives credit to her saintly mother who bore such a large family, as her “Double Medal of Honor” winner, and attributes her own love of a large family to that.
Helen was herself a stay at home mom until Patrick turned 16. After 27 years with the Detroit Police Department , her husband retired in 1977. They moved to Colorado Springs in 1978. Sadly, her husband Jim died of lung cancer in 1991. Perhaps because she did suffer from asthma in childhood, Helen now suffers from C.O.P.D., and other ailments, so she does not get out and about as in years past. Way back then, she enjoyed many of the activities at the clubhouse, including a good game of Pinochle or Cribbage. Poker was her game though, which she played with George Mataya, Tony Basile, Howard Walker and Bob Tudjan. She had to give up her Poker night however, as the boys were getting too risque’ for her.
Helen loves to dance, and would give up most anything to have one more dance with Jim and Barb McCann’s friend Andy. Who knows, “Little Hell-yun”? Perhaps that can still be arranged.
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