We Remember: Helen Keenan (nee Leary)

Helen Keenan
Born: November 4, 1909, St. Lawrence County, NY
Died: May 1, 2004, St. Lawrence County, NY
Relation to Author: Grandmother

To me she was Grandma. When I was born, she was approaching her 71st birthday and would live to be 94. I was her 15th grandchild and though there were lots of us grandchildren, I never felt like she was bored of us by the time I came along. I knew she loved us and loved the times we visited. Though we lived six hours away, we visited probably 3 times each year, which meant we were able to know her pretty well.

I remember most her humor; she was easy to laugh although not goofy or silly. She enjoyed talking to us kids. She smoked in moderation - or should I say in secret, at least from the grandkids. And I remember her always working on a crossword. I also remember cards - playing cards was a serious but fun activity at grandma's house.

Two particular card game memories stand out. First, was a game with many of the grandkids - maybe around Grandma's 90th birthday. The game was so competitive, it resulted in one of us (I won't mention any names) using one of the more egregious curse words (I'll give you a hint, it starts with the letter 'f'.) Of course, grandma didn't flinch and laughed as all the grandkids - most of whom were well over 25 - held their breath.

The other game was with just grandma and my two siblings. We seemed to play all afternoon - so distracted were we that the sun set and we didn't turn on any lights. I could never remember the name of the game, but a quick internet search tells me it was Michigan Rummy. I still remember the green tray and the penny antes and the excitement when one of us collected a bit pot. And I remember that grandma was equally happy at our happiness.

While those two games stand out, there are countless others that blend together into general warm memories. She never turned down a game of war or poker. Grandma was sharp mentally until the end (though aging and sickness definitely weighed on her). She loved us, she was proud of us. And I sure miss her.