MENNEAR, Helen Lucille, born June 23, 1916 in Flint, Michigan, passed away peacefully Saturday, November 17, 2018 at the Carlyle House with her family at her side. Helen was the third of four children born to Emil Roscoe and Alma Blanche Hartley and she was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings John, Phidalus and Doris and by her beloved husband of over sixty years, Samuel A. Mennear. She leaves to cherish her memory a son and daughter-in-law, John H. and Jeanine Mennear of NC, a daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Douglas Coates of FL, six grandchildren, Diane and Loran Baxter, John and Catherine Mennear, Allen Mennear, Sheila and Troy Hirt, Douglas and Kaye Coates, Michael Coates; ten great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; niece, Natalie Lucas and nephews, George and Danny Thomas. Helen grew up in Flint, Michigan and lived in Kettering, OH and Naples FL over the past few years. There will be a private family memorial service and she will be interred with her husband in the Crestwood Memorial Cemetery in Grand Blanc, MI.
Helen was a representative of that amazing generation that guided their families through the 20th Century, and witnessed a period of history that featured the sorrow of wars, the uncertainty of economic depression, and the excitement of discovery. She, along with her peers, laid the ground work for the development of thousands of inventions that literally changed the world. She carried the title of “Rosie the Riveter” during World War II and was part of that magical time that transported America from a ride in a Model T Ford to a trip to the moon and beyond.
From that long-ago bumpy ride she picked up speed and hurtled through the Space Age and on to this new Age of Information. She described her odyssey as magical, as she witnessed the progress that her people made in a mere one hundred years. After a century, Helen described the next stage of her amazing journey as approaching a “graduation” and after over one hundred two years, she achieved this goal.
Helen was the only one of the Roscoe siblings to graduate from high school (Flint Central High School in 1934) and, although she had no opportunity to pursue further formal education, she was a life-time learner. An avid reader, Helen reread, internalized and owned the best of whatever she was reading. In later years, even during her tenth decade, she frequently delighted family and visitors alike by reciting, verbatim, a poem, an affirmation, or a quote she recalled from her earlier reading. And her words were usually right on target for the conversation in which she was engaged.
A book Helen was particularly fond of, perhaps because she could identify with the title, was The Millionaire Next Door. Although she became an astute stock market investor, she continually wondered, “How could I have been so lucky?” Well, now it can be told… it wasn’t luck at all. Like most people who achieve success in any great effort, Helen set an objective, developed her plan and followed it to its logical conclusion…financial security.
Throughout her lifetime, Helen maintained and set an example of high moral standards tor her family to follow. She encouraged the younger generations to stand a little taller, try a little harder, and to raise their goals to match their abilities. She valued the opinion of others but felt that our greatest personal achievement is when we learn to think for ourselves. She believed that we, as individuals, must take responsibility for our actions and make the choices necessary to improve our health, our wealth, and all aspects of our personal lives. She believed that the ability to do this is our creator’s intention and his greatest gift to us.
During the final year of her earthly adventure she sent a letter to Mr. Charles Schwab; yes, that Mr. Schwab. She wanted to thank him for his help and assistance which facilitated her in an investment program that culminated in her eventually becoming one of the millionaires next door. In his response he praised her desire to pass her wisdom on to younger members of her family. Helen was rightfully proud of her achievement but even more importantly, she became an inspirational role model for her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren.
Helen was fond of saying she was being a path finder for the younger generations of her family. And of course, we were all younger. She was anxious that we learn about nutrition and cultivate healthy habits. And she wanted us to be capable of happiness, independence and security. But there is one thing she showed us that I don’t think she even thought about. She didn’t think about it because it was a habit-knit part of her very being. She spent 16 years hovering over, and caring for Samuel, her stroke-stricken, semi-invalid husband. We all observed and learned about the commitment of love and caring.
Of course, growing up as Helen’s children wasn’t always serious business. We fondly recall marching around the breakfast table while listening to Don McNeil’s Breakfast Club on the radio; we listened to her read from Robert Louis Stevenson’s A child’s Garden of Verses; and she listened as we recited our poems and readings for presentation in Auditorium Class at Homedale School.
In this season of Thanksgiving, the family of Helen Lucille Mennear (Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Great Great Grandmother, Advisor, Friend, Financial Wizard and so much more) mourn the loss of our fearless leader and matriarch. We are left to honor her name, walk in her footsteps, and try to reach the bar that she continued to hold high for over one hundred years.
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