Thanks to you all for your condolences and to Jon for delivering Mom's eulogy and to Kara for the readings. We appreciate your support during the saddest time of our lives. Mom is now with Dad watching over us all. "Harbor Lights Forever". Anne, Jay, Rick and Babette.

Anne and Jay,

In honor of your mom, who I loved very dearly, I wanted to add my eulogy so that you can be reminded of how wonderful she was to my family and everyone that she touched.  I will always be there for you. God bless you, Jon, Jan, Kara, and Kaitlin Breitbarth 

              Helen

I have known Helen, or as my daughters Kara and Kaitlin affectionately called her, Grandma Helen, for over twenty-five (25) years as a member of the St. Joseph parish.  I don't think that there is a person here today, whether you have known Helen for one month or fifty years that wouldn't say the same thing about her.  She always made you feel that you were the most important person in her life when you talked to her and I was honored to be her friend. I cherished every moment that I spent with Helen and her beloved husband, Joe, and for that I will always have a special place in my heart for her.

Helen always had something positive to say to me and my family.  What I admired the most about her was that I could always count on Helen to be honest with me.   I have so many wonderful memories of Helen, however, my most special moment was when people from St. Joseph's would come up to Helen and tell her that it was really wonderful to see a mother and son worshipping at church together.  When they asked her if I was her son, she would tell them “Yes he is” instead of saying that I was just a friend, or he is like a son to me.  I want to tell all of you today that Helen was a mom to me in so many ways and I will always love her for loving me like a son.

For those of you who have known Helen for awhile, I think that you will remember one thing that she would always say after you talked to her on the phone or did something to help her out.  She would always say “Thanks a million!”  I could always count on Helen to express her appreciation in a unique way.  She was very appreciative of our friendship and told me on many occasions that I was special to her.  Everyone should take the time to tell the people that you love how you feel about them because you never know when they will be taken away from you.  Helen and I told each other often, and most importantly in church, “I love you”.  Although my heart is broken with her passing, I have the comfort of knowing that Helen loved me and she knew that I loved her.

Helen was very passionate about her family and especially her beloved husband, Joe.  She missed him so much when he passed away almost ten years ago.  She loved to talk about her courtship with Joe and the hundreds of love letters that he sent her when he was detailed on his navy ships for months at a time.  Joe was an incredible man and a role model to me.  I loved him dearly and miss him very much.  Helen's commitment of her love for Joe was evident by her leaving his voice on their telephone message machine. If you called Helen and needed to leave a message, Joe's voice was on the answering machine.  What a special gift to share with us.

Our oldest daughter Kara had to write a paper in her honors English class in high school about contrasting life styles of teenagers from today and teenagers from the past.  She prepared a list of questions for Papa Joe and Grandma Helen, however, she got sick and couldn't ask them her questions.  I took the questions over to their house and spent over two hours hearing and seeing Helen open up her heart about her childhood in Sayre, Pennsylvania and meeting her handsome husband Joe.  Helen was totally happy when she talked about her family.  I know for a fact how much she loved Joe because she told me on many occasions.

Helen adored her daughter Anne Louise and was very proud of her. She would get so excited when Anne and Rick stayed with her for ten (10) days at Christmas time or if Anne was coming to California for a business conference.  Helen loved her son Jay very much.  She really enjoyed visiting Jay and Babette at their ranch in Valley Center at Thanksgiving time when Joe was alive. Erin was the apple of Helen's eye. She really looked forward to her visits with Cordell and their treks to Costco. 

I am sure that all of you here today have a special memory of Helen.  I met Helen and Joe at St. Joseph's Church and worshipped with them for over twenty-five (25) years.  They watched both of my daughters when they were little while I was ushering at the 5:00 p.m. mass.  My last moments with Helen were very special and spiritual to me.  The last words that Helen spoke and I understood, was on the Sunday before she left the hospital to come home that following Tuesday.  She had a very difficult weekend and I had visited her three times that day.  After my third visit, as I was getting ready to say good bye to Helen, she took off her oxygen mask and said “I would like communion”.  I was giving Helen communion every Sunday during her illness and assumed that she couldn't receive because it was difficult for her to swallow.  I ran to my car and brought the host back to her room to give her communion.  I asked the nurses if it was ok and they agreed to my suggestion of breaking off a small piece of the host.  I ate the rest of the host and had communion with her for the last time.  The other moment was a few hours before Helen passed away last Wednesday night.  I knelt down next to Helen's bed in her den and recited a decade of the rosary with her dear neighbor, Celeste, while holding her hand.  I could see Helen's mouth moving and knew that she was trying to pray with us.  As I was leaving, I told Helen that I loved her very much, and again her mouth was moving to say something to me.  I know in my heart what she was trying to tell me, because I heard it many times before. I had a similar moment with my mom the day before she passed away.  I knelt down next to a chair that my mom had to sit in for an hour each day because of her breathing difficulties.  I put her head on my shoulder and prayed with her.  My mom passed away later that night.

Please hold onto your memories of Helen, and keep them close to your heart.  She lived an incredible 87 years on this earth and all of us have been touched by her in a special way.  I know that Helen will be truly missed, but never forgotten.

Anne and Jay……I want you to know that I love you both very much and will always be there for you.  I look forward to spending more time with you in the future and carrying on your mom and dad's memories.

Helen…..I will always love you and keep you close to my heart.  I will miss you tremendously, but never forget you.  God bless you my dear friend, and most importantly, “Thanks a million!”.

Anne and Jay, our prayers are with you and your families.  We will all truly miss your mom.  We all have wonderful, fond memories of her.  She will forever be in our hearts.
God bless,
The Roberts Family

Anne and Jay, our prayers are with you and your families.  We will truly miss your Mom.  We all have wonderful, fond memories of her.  She will forever be in our hearts.  
God bless, 
The Roberts Family

Jay and Anne,  our deepest sorrow goes out to you and your families.  Your mother was a truly exceptional woman. We will miss her, her presence, her laughter and all that she has shared with us over the years. 
We have many happy memories we will always cherish.

Brett, June Chelsie, Maegan Sargent

OBITUARIO

Helen A. Luchaco

18 julio, 1924 – 2 mayo, 2012

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