Our aunt, Helen Kermes Meraklis, was our mom’s youngest sister and the sweetheart of our family. She was so fun-loving, funny, fiercely independent, smart, beautiful, and the kindest person you could ever know – it radiated. She could put a smile on your face just thinking about her. She was always up for anything and passed these qualities down to my cousins, Angie and Harry.
I loved spending summer vacations at Aunt Helen and Uncle Sam’s house. My favorite memory was coming back to the house one evening and hearing music blaring. We sneaked up to the living room window and watched them jitterbugging and laughing. Just the two of them!
When my daughter Liz was a little girl she spent many hours in the Laura Ashley bedroom, playing with the antique tea sets arranged on a child-sized table. Many times, we would find Aunt Helen hidden away having a tea party with Liz.
Her front porch swing, adorned with puffy chintz pillows was a favorite hangout. When my son Zak went missing, we could always find him laying out there swinging and reading a book.
When we moved back to Pittsburgh, just a few streets away from Aunt Helen and our Aunt Irene (who lived next door), my kids were so fortunate to have their loving presence so near to us. We often ate dinner with “the aunts” which always ended in a dance party.
And I cannot talk about Aunt Helen without mentioning her love for gardening and her gorgeous, fabulous flowers! Her yard was breathtaking and was featured on the coveted Pittsburgh Garden Tour.
Why am I sharing these memories? Because Alzheimer’s Disease took our beloved Aunt Helen way too soon. This hideous disease took her memories from her but never her joyful presence.
In honor of Aunt Helen and so many other family members and friends lost, I will be participating on October 18th for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Pittsburgh.
This year, I am more hopeful than ever. Groundbreaking research is happening right here at the University of Pittsburgh. New medications, early screening tools, and advancements in treatment mean that families today have options my aunt never had. We are closer than ever to a world without Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
I invite you to join me in this fight. Let’s raise money, spread awareness, and work toward ending the suffering of so many families.
Would you please support my walk by helping me reach my goal of $3,000?
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