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For some reason I distinctly remember Helene back at the Philadelphia staging in September 2010 . No offense to the other MAK15s , but she is one of the few that stands out in my head when I look back on those two days . In those skits they made us do ( welcome to the Peace Corps !) she had an ethereal , earth goddess vibe that drew me to her instantly . I wanted to get to know her right then and there .
My wish came true and I was lucky to be placed at the same site as Helene . It was a privilege to spend two years with her and become close friends with such a unique and extraordinary woman . We spent time together multiple times a week throughout our service ; much of it spent just talking together in her spotless apartment . I could talk with Helene about anything . She was a wonderful listener and every problem I had while in Peace Corps ( and there were a lot ) would be talked through with her . She always gave good advice for Peace Corps and for life . Helene marched to the beat of her own drum and lived her life doing exactly what she wanted to do , which is something I learned
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I lived with Helene during her last year of service in Bitola . She was an amazing friend and site mate . Her apartment was a calm and safe haven from hard days and daily frustrations . Helene was always there with a kind word and a brownie or a piece of apple cake . Many a day I would go upstairs to ask for a cup of sugar or flour and , an hour and a half later , leave with my soul a little less burdened . I cannot tell you how many people she impacted during her time in Macedonia , my guess would border on endless .
Her beautiful smile , determination , creativity , and kind spirit touched people in ways we will never know . She was a force of nature . I always found it funny that she ended up in one of the largest cities in Macedonia , knowing her affinity for being in nature . One of her favorite places to go was to the nearby village of Dragosh . She would spend her day picking fruit and vegetables in the country with our landlady Ljuba . from her and aspire to do . I could write an entire essay about all of the great things she did in Bitola . But my fondest memories come from the immeasurable time spent together , just talking . It is so hard to believe she is gone .
I hope that in time , when I think back on my friendship with Helene , the happy memories come to mind before the sadness . I will look back and smile on all of the wonderful moments we spent together and remember all of the things she taught me . I will remember the little things that made her a special person : like when she would throw chicken bones out of her third story window ( at night ) for the stray dogs and cats to eat , and her sitting on the oversized pillow on the floor next to her tub of goldfish getting them to come to the surface at her gentle touch of the water . She showed me the video of Gotye ’ s “ Somebody I Used to Know ” back when it had under 5,000 views on Youtube and nobody else had heard it yet … and told me how Gotye reminded me of her son ’ s father . I will remember the many creative projects she was always working on , such as dyeing
Their relationship often made me giggle . They were good friends and both very stubborn . Ljuba was only ten years Helene ’ s elder , yet still treated her as a child , scolding Helene when she wore sandals in the spring because it was too cold and not allowing her to leave the house without socks on ( little did Ljuba know that those socks were removed and pocketed a block away , in the middle of the street ).
During my time with Helene I never knew her to be bored . She was always in the process of creating something , be it an amazing piece of art or a delicious meal . That was one of her many gifts - taking something seemingly meaningless and turning it into a thing of beauty . Helene exuded beauty inside and out . Her Creative Recycle program was perhaps her most successful endeavor during her Peace Corps service . She had the opportunity to travel around the country and teach her techniques to everyone from fabric with red wine in her kitch sink while strings of homemad paper beads hung to dry in h bedroom doorway .
Helene was full of kindness . S bought Roma children gelato in th summer and befriended a Rom woman on the Sirok Sokak , g ing her a big hug and some of th chocolate mints she always h in her purse whenever she sa her . Helene would get frustrate when her colleagues were alwa late for work , yet she refused to g late herself ( no matter how ma times I told her to ). I loved seein her big smile when she held an played with the babies in the o phanage . And , of course , the n merous dinners seated at her lit kitchen table , eating her delicio food , while having uncountab conversations about anything an everything . These are the mem ries I will always cherish of m dear friend . Helene made peop smile wherever she went and t warm feelings that she brought those around her will be her lastin legacy .
– Lauren Hofer , MAK 15
young children to entrepreneu She inspired many by the way s let her passion lead her .
One of the things I loved mo about Helene was her unendin compassion . Her capacity to op herself up , allow her vulnerability show , and to love was inspiring . T ward the end of her service , Ma a good friend and colleague , cam to Helene with a newborn kitt that had been left for dead and w fighting for his life . We named h Crazy Face McGee . Helene spe many sleepless nights nursing hi feeding him , and caring for him . the end , the damage was too gre and the kitten died in her arms . I s with her as she wept and it mov me deeply . Her love for huma kind , for all creatures , and natu alike was infinite and eternal . Sh lived her life wholeheartedly and loved her for it .
-Karli-Marie Reyes-Dimovska , MAK 16