Helene Solomon's Obituary
Helene Solomon, 85 of Delray Beach, Florida passed away July 29, 2017. Graveside services will take place on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 10:00 am at Beth Moses Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York. Funeral arrangements were handled by Levitt Weinstein Coconut Creek.
My Dearest Helene,
I have lain awake many sleepless nights trying to compose word's that may adequately describe the feeling in my heart. Please except the very long delay. It was on June 28, 1954, on bay four, Brighton Beach that I saw the tallest, most beautiful gal carrying a portable radio. We talked, we connected and dated that evening.
It was instant "love at first sight" for the both of us. When I ask you what I can buy you for your soon to be birthday, Your reply was "I want you for my birthday". Six week's had passed since we met. Every single day or evening in July and August we were together. I remember your birthday party on August 20th in your home in Coney Island. Sometime that day you received a "Western Union" telegram from me. I expressed in the telegram that "we will have a great life together", and we did.
You went to Brooklyn collage for three years, I barely completed High school, because I was gun crazy and thought the US Army would be my best bet. On my seventeenth birthday February 11, 1950, I joined the Army National Guard. Even though the Korean War had started, I was able to finish High School.
Our Wedding day was December 18, 1954. The astounding thing about us is, that we totally agreed on almost "everything". I cannot phantom my life without you. Me standing 6'4" and you with a 2 inch heel stood nearly at 6'3". I remember strangers coming up to us to tell us "your a great looking couple" and so we were. My job in the US Post office had crazy starting hours. We used to meet on the steps of the Nostrand Avenue subway, you coming home from your job in the Metropolitan Life, and me going to my night job at the PO Garage on W. 34th Street in NYC. We would speak for a few minutes, you went home, I to work. When I got home about 1:30 AM you were fast asleep and were gone the time I awoke. The weekend's were great. We never denied our self's restaurants, weekend vacation's etc. One day you said to me, "sit down, "let's talk". Your concern was that we were not saving any money and "it's time". How right you were. When we talked about children, we both agreed "TWO". Barry, born June 27, 1956. We purchased our first home in Canarsie two year's later. The day we took title, we left Barry with my folk's, Purchased gallon's of paint and we both went to work. You wore jean's and had a rag on your head. You looked beautiful with paint on your face and cloths. I said to myself, "what a gal, I love her so much".
The time came for child number two. There were no sonograms then. We went to the hospital on November 24, 1959 and had a boy's name along with a girl's name with us. When the twins came home, their birth certificate read, "Baby A and Baby B", Marc and Robert. Our summer vacation was in our back yard. A small inflatable pool, couple of beach chair's and a big umbrella. Prospect Park almost every weekend We were a happy family. Each time I looked at you, I thought, Helene is so beautiful, "what a lucky guy I am". Although we both grew a little older, you looked as beautiful as the day we met. The neighbors called you "superwomen". All three boy's were in bed by 6 PM. When they were going to school, it was you that made sure all the home work was correctly done. What a Mom you were. I remember asking you if we can get a dog. You answered, "only if it's a French Poodle". I did not think that would happen, as poodles were expensive. I was delivering pizza's on the weekend. Dom, my boss's poodle had a litter. We got Napoleon for $50.00. A role of dimes every week. Several year's later we were given Nikki, also a poodle. In 1967 for the first time since we were married, I went with Joel & John upstate, NY and purchased acreage together with them, without consulting you. Your reaction, "when can I see it"? Boy, was I relieved! Halcott Center became our home away from home for 36 years,
Year's passed, all three boy's completed college. Rob and Barry left the nest, I retired from the now USPS in 1983, but you continued to work at the Met. I keep asking you to also retire and in 1984 you accepted a small package. We were thinking Florida and in 1989 made the move. After many year's together, I gotten very use to us being happy, and I loved you very much. All three of our boy's got married and we bought a home in Delray Beach. The one thing missing from our lives was having a dog. Even years later, any time we watched a dog food commercial on TV, we both thought about having a dog, but being we were traveling so often, it just was not practical. We both joined most of the major airlines, "frequent flyer programs". We would receive "points" for joining and when we made a purchase on their credit card. I soon discovered a method of receiving points with out making purchases.
We became "world travelers", but only in the US, Canada and Mexico. I do not recall any disagreement concerning where we were headed next. If I recommend a destination, your reply was "when we leaving"?
In 2010, I noticed that you we having difficulty using your cell phone, which you had for year's. After some test's, the new's hit us like a ton of bricks. You were diagnosed with Alzheimer's. You read the report and I remember your exact word's, "that's all I need"! The first two year's thing's were mostly normal, but then it got serious requiring me to take charge of all the "household duties". I became your"caretaker". Our house was spotless clean and we went somewhere every day. The dog park was one of our favorites. We sat on a bench and any dog that came close became our pal. You loved it and each time a dog would say hello to you, out of your mouth, "why can't we get a dog"? We were both in our early eighties, when our boy's convinced us it was time to move to an assisted living facility. The problem was that the facilities would not let us live together, you in the "memory unit" and me in a one room apartment. Every day I would go to the memory unit, pick you up, make our round to the dog park, to a beach in Boca where we parked 100 feet from the ocean, sometimes, even to a mall. We would go to our home in Pineridge and watch movies and "youtube". Then I would bring you back and stayed with you until you went to sleep, I hated the place. I decided to go back home permanently..
It was no fun being alone without you. You were on my mind constantly. I hardly was able to sleep. Although I saw you every day, I missed you terrible. When I came into the facility, the minute you saw me your face lit up. As I sat close, you woulds tell me how much you loved me. Then you would ask, "are you OK? Are you sure? The tears rolled from my eye's. When you saw that, tear's rolled down your cheek. I called you "pretty lady". When I was home, as I awoke from my restless sleep I would turn to talk to you, and for a second or two I was surprised that you were not there. I was aware of the end results of Alzheimer's, and I was not able to imagine life without you. I cry lot as I am now, as I write.
The thing I dreaded the most occurred recently. I came into the facility to be with you. I bought one of our picture albums which you loved to look at, our family photo's. You were siting at a table fast asleep. I tried to wake you. You looked at me and you went back into your world. Each time I awoke you, you did not seem to know me. "Helene, I am your husband and you are my wife. Helene would reply in a language known only to her. Two of the 'aids" came over and ask me, why are you crying? I was not able to speak. I got up and left. I returned a few day's later, and the results were the same. I stopped at the "social directors" office. Sally was very sympathetic and we talked a while. I told her how much I love Helene. She advised me to join the caretaker group that meets often. Maybe Sally is right, but I have no intention of doing so.
Helene, I will always love you, no matter what happens. I will absolutely be true and faithful to you forever. You are my "best friend" and will love you till the end of my life.
Your loving
husband,
Carl (with a C)
6/17/2017
What’s your fondest memory of Helene?
What’s a lesson you learned from Helene?
Share a story where Helene's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Helene you’ll never forget.
How did Helene make you smile?
