Helen L. Yee

FROM AN EARLY AGE HELEN WAS VERY BRIGHT AND WAS A BOOKWORM ALL HER LIFE. SHE ALSO HAD A DEEP FONDNESS FOR MUSIC, THEATER, ARTWORK AND MOVIES. SHE WAS A "PEOPLE PERSON" AND MADE FRIENDS EASILY. HER STRONG FAITH SUSTAINED HER THROUGHOUT HER LIFETIME. HER WONDERFUL SENSE OF HUMOR REMAINED WITH HER UNTIL THE VERY END.

HELEN ATTENDED SOUTH BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL, AND UPON GRADUATION (DESPITE PROTESTS FROM HER PARENTS) SHE DECIDED TO PURSUE A CAREER AS A BLUES SINGER.

WHILE APPEARING AS THE FEATURED SINGER AT A NIGHTCLUB IN BOSTON'S CHINATOWN, SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE HANDSOME YOUNG CHINESE MANAGER OF THE CLUB, GENE YEE. AGAINST ALL ODDS, SHE AND GENE WERE MARRIED IN SPITE OF OPPOSITION AT THAT TIME TO RACIALLY MIXED MARRIAGES. TOGETHER THEY PRODUCED FOUR CHILDREN.

HELEN WAS A CARING, KIND, WARM, NURTURING, GENEROUS AND LOVING MOTHER. SHE INSTILLED IN HER CHILDREN THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY UNITY.

AFTER RAISING HER CHILDREN, SHE WORKED AS A NURSES' AIDE IN A PRIVATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IN BROOKLINE, MA. SHE WAS A FAVORITE AMONG THE PATIENTS AS SHE TREATED EVERYONE WITH COMPASSION AND RESPECT. AFTER WORKING FOR 10 YEARS AT THE HOSPITAL, SHE BECAME A NANNY CARING FOR BABIES OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO LIVED IN THE EXCLUSIVE BEACON HILL SECTION OF BOSTON. SHE WAS VERY MUCH IN DEMAND AND WAS COINED "THE NANNY ON THE HILL."

WHEN HELEN AND GENE RETIRED, THEY SOLD THEIR HOUSE IN THE BOSTON AREA AND SETTLED IN VAN NUYS, WHERE THEY COULD BE CLOSER TO THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR BELOVED GRANDSON "RICKY." THE ENTIRE FAMILY ENJOYED MANY HAPPY GATHERINGS AND EXCURSIONS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AFTER GENE'S PASSING, HELEN MOVED TO A MULTI-ETHNIC SENIOR CITIZEN BUILDING IN VAN NUYS. THERE SHE BEFRIENDED MANY OF THE TENANTS, AND NOT SURPRISINGLY, SHE WAS ADMIRED AND CHERISHED BY PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE CULTURES, BACKGROUNDS AND NATIONALITIES.

A HIGHLIGHT IN HELEN'S RECENT YEARS WAS DANCING WITH HER GRANDSON AT HIS WEDDING. SHE WAS THRILLED THAT RICKY FOUND A LOVELY WIFE, AND SHE WAS OVERJOYED IN WELCOMING HER GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN TO THE FAMILY FOLD.

THE AGE OLD SAYING "TO KNOW HER IS TO LOVE HER" CERTAINLY RANG TRUE WITH REGARD TO HELEN. SHE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED BECAUSE SHE WAS GREATLY LOVED BY ALL WHO KNEW HER.

HELEN LEAVES BEHIND HER CHILDREN, GENE, JR., LINDA, LEO AND KIMBERLY; HER GRANDSON, RICHARD ROGERS; HER GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, JORDAN AND XANDER ROGERS; AND A HOST OF FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES.