family photo

Celebrating Aunt Helen

Dear Mom,

Soon Fred and I will be heading to Rochester, NY, for a celebration of Aunt Helen’s life. My cousin asked me to offer a prayer during the interment and this is what came to me.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the blessing of
Peter and Helen Rutan in our lives.
They taught us about kindness, love
And nurturing and we are very
Grateful for their presence.

Thank you that they are now
Together again, side by side
In peace and with You.

Thank you that Helen, Betty and Lois
Are together again as well.
May they celebrate joyfully with You.

May we feel their presence and
Fill our hearts with happy memories.
May we carry on their legacy of
Kindness and goodness.

With thankful hearts, we say
Amen

I am so grateful to be able to offer this prayer as Aunt Helen and Uncle Pete were second parents to me. Please stand by my side as I offer this from my heart. I know you will give me the strength to remain calm and fully present.

Love,

Helen

Similar Posts

  • My Other Moms

    May 2026 Dear Mom, Happy Belated Mother’s Day! Last Sunday was very special. Alex and Abby joined us for lunch and fun conversation. Later we did FaceTime with Sara and her family. I feel truly blessed. You taught me the importance of family time and I will be forever grateful for that. I was very…

  • Fall Memories

    September, 2026 Dear Mom, It is almost fall and I have been thinking of happy memories from my childhood during that season. Our lives were much simpler then. I loved how you took us to parks to run and play, to enjoy the crisp fall air and the beauty of the changing leaves. I enjoyed…

  • Five Years Already

    August, 2025 Dear Charlie, As I was reviewing some papers, I came across your last birthday card to me from 2020. The verse was “I’m so lucky to have you as a sister and a friend. Happy Birthday.” Your personal note brought tears to my eyes—”Thank you for everything, especially for your love. We are…

  • Sara Elizabeth

    By Helen Fernald January 26, 2026 Dear Mom, Looking out the window at the nearly foot of snow around my house today, I am reminded of January 20, 1985, and the big ice and snow storm in the middle of Kansas. Ever since I was a young child, what I wanted most in life was…

  • February 2025

    February 26, 2025 Dear Mom, We live in a very discordant world right now. For that reason, I am focusing on my story of kindness and humanity. On July 15, 2024, my foot got stuck under the rod of the picnic table by Dockside and I splatted on the ground, breaking both my right wrist…