Helen Anderson MacDonald passed away June 5, 2008, at the age of 92, after complications of hip surgery.
Helen is survived by her husband, Forrest, and daughters Karen M. Rosenthal and Lauren M. Cassatt and their families. We have created this web site in her memory.
Helen's love of water was legendary and she taught thousands of children to swim. Her granddaughter Ariel said it best: "I hope you're floating in a big sparkling swimming pool somewhere, keeping your hair dry and kicking your legs with no pain."
We would love to hear your favorite stories and memories of Helen. Click here to leave a comment.
A celebration of Helen's life will be held Sunday, June 29, at 2 pm at Claremont United Methodist Church, 211 W. Foothill Blvd, Claremont. A reception, Helen's Tea Party, will be held immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Clan Donald Foundation Inc. or Inland Valley Hope Partners.
7 comments:
I think it was some twenty years ago when you invited me to your home in California. Before lunch, you suddenly told me to say grace. I was a little flurried because I couldn't speak English. I asked if I could do it in Japanese and said a short prayer of thanks. When I looked up after the prayer, I saw your eyes were teary and my heart was filled with emotion. It was the moment I felt together with you that God is always with us when we pray.
Helen, you had a solid faith and were always cheerful and strong, making other people around you happy. and you were also such a gentle person who prayed with tears.
now I am 91 years old, and the time I spent with you though not for long is so unforgettable and dear to me.
I wish I had been better in English so I could have talked with you more, or could have written letters more often.
but Helen, I believe you understood.
till the day I meet again in Heaven,
Kazuko Watanabe (one of Helen's students in Japan)
My Aunt Helen has always been fascinating and a little bit exotic to me - always on the move toward something interesting. Some flashes of memory: a visit to California in 1960 - Aunt Helen taught us about muu-muus; a family reunion in Texas - Aunt Helen and Uncle Mac dancing at the Scottish festival - she in her summer cotton tartan skirt; my niece's wedding in San Francisco - Aunt Helen, Uncle Mac, my friend Mark and I heading from the hotel to the local Irish pub on foot - we could not keep up with her! When we all got there we had a grand visit. My kids used to get scared when I said "Let's go on an adventure!" - they figured we were about to get lost. I think my Aunt Helen went on many adventures of many sorts, and I will miss hearing about them. Love, Joyce
Dear MacDonald Clan:
I will never forget your mother's patience in teaching me to swim. I was one of those little girls who did not like to get her face wet. I often think of the swedish pancakes she so lovingly served at Lauren's slumber parties. "Mrs. Mac Donald" touched many lives and will stay in my memory as long as my memory stays with me.
With Fond Memories and Much Sadness,
Kathy (Berkline) Hall
El Segundo High Class of 1964
The past 30 years I have had the privilege of calling Helen and Forrest my friends.
It all started with a Scottish country dance class at Miles playhouse in Santa Monica. They had been dancing for a couple of years before I started dancing in Jack Rennie’s class. I thought they were so much ahead of me.
Over the years they have become very close friends and someone I could always depend on. I even inherited the “tea pot” (which was just a large coffee pot) used in the Santa Monica class at SMC. Forrest made a nice set of handles to carry it around.
I don’t know how she did it but she sure won a lot of the raffle prizes at the dances.
I remember one time when she won 4 prizes. Well she did buy a lot of tickets to help support the branch.
Even when they could no longer get to class we were in close contact. Just before Helen had her last hip operation we discussed how we were dong and she wanted to be sure that I was taking care of myself.
Audree Fowler
On the far too infrequent visits between our families when we were growing up, Aunt Helen never failed to bring gifts when she visited us. Necklaces, scarves...and we always got to pick the ones we wanted. The most recent "hostess gift" was a shopping tote from Trader Joe's. She herself imprinted an additional line on the bag: "California" after telling Trader Joe's they themselves should imprint the location under the logo. I use the tote regularly when grocery shopping and often "next in line people" will ask if there is a location in Dallas-Fort Worth. I think of Aunt Helen every time.
All through the 1950s and 60s, Thanksgiving meant a huge feast with Aunt Helen and Uncle Mac (as we called Forrest in those days). Though not related by blood, the MacDonald’s were closer than most of our “real” relatives. Helen was the driving force between those magical, chaotic get-togethers with the Bedells, Bradburys and MacDonalds. With all the drama that can ensue with all the preparation and many young children running about, I can never remember Aunt Helen ever losing her composer or her temper. As with most large recurring family gatherings, all of us at one time or another “lost it”, but not Helen. She was a rock and an inspiration and a joy; always extending herself to others and putting their needs first. One example is a story my parents often told of a time shortly after I was born in 1951. My father had just lost a business and the house they built was in foreclosure; there was no money for food. Pride prevented asking for help or even divulging the need. Somehow Aunt Helen knew and walked in with 2 large bags of groceries and quickly left, not looking for thanks or creating embarrassment. Thank you Aunt Helen. We love you.
Mark
Forrest
I sit and think about your news and don’t know what to say,
That won’t seem trite or empty were it said another way.
I think about the times we shared a laugh and then a drink,
But then the words you’ve written make my heart begin to sink.
I want to say a lot of things to show you that I care
To say how sorry I am now that I could not be there,
When friends and loved ones gathered round to help you share the grief
Instead of being limited to comments stiff and brief.
But Forrest I can never know the pain you feel inside,
When you reflect upon the loss of Helen, your fair bride.
I saw you two as constants by whom marriage should be scanned,
And shudder when I contemplate that life won’t go as planned.
I forward look and fear to see how fate might rule my life
And rob me at a crucial hour of Nancy, my dear wife.
Yet even now though time is brief when we have had our stay
I can but only thank God for the blessing of each day.
I have no comfort in my words to offer that are sage,
I only know that backward glances show upon the page,
That you were always good to me and brightened up my day
The same is true of Helen who now has flown away.
Neil Stewart McLeod
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