Monday, March 14, 2016
My late mother, Fran Price, was a cleaning lady for Judge and Mrs. Lyons for several years (she started cleaning for them soon after their son had been killed in a car accident). She would sit and listen to Helen as she described her heartbreak over losing him. She would tell me how sorry she felt for her as she mourned the death of her son. It wasn't long after she starting cleaning for them that she and Helen became friends and confidants. My mom was always amazed at how nice Helen and Judge Lyons were to her. You see, my mom only had a 9th grade education and your mom was educated and married to a Judge! She couldn't believe how grounded, spiritual and down-to-earth this Judge's wife was. She would tell me how Helen would sit and visit with her while she cleaned. Often times, Helen would make coffee for my mom and insist that she take a break and sit and chat with her over coffee at the kitchen table. My mom always had low self esteem over her lack of education as she had to quit high school at the age of 15 to get a full time job to support her 8 siblings and parents. Helen treated her no differently than she treated any of her educated friends. I wished that I would have told her how much her friendship had meant to my mom. They shared their deep faith together as well. This faith that they shared was talked about especially after my parents tragically lost my 26-year-old brother in the Union Oil Explosion that occurred in 1977. They were absolutely devastated as you can imagine. Helen was one of the first people to contact my mom after my brothers death. Now, with all the differences these two ladies had in their backgrounds, they had this horrible thing in common........both having lost their young sons in accidents. Helen would sit and talk to my mom and listen to her sob and they would pray together. I will be forever grateful to Mrs. Lyons for the friendship she blessed my mom with. May she rest in peace. Such a gentle soul, a woman who dearly loved her husband and her children. One last thing about Helen. My mom would tell me about her quick wit and how they would laugh and laugh while she cleaned over at their beautiful house on Western Avenue. My condolences to all of her cherished family members. God Bless!
