Helen Solomon

Visitation for Helen Solomon will be held at St. Philip the Apostle Church on Friday, July 21, 2006 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., followed by recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at St. Philip the Apostle Church July 22, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Union Cemetery. Helen Solomon was amazing. She was polite and witty until the very end. If death is life's final party, she was cordially invited on July 17, 2006. Helen never could turn down an invitation. At five feet, two inches tall, Helen Solomon marched diminutively through life with a cunning smile, beautifully done hair, and profound integrity. Born in Hollister, California in 1910, she lived through 40% of our nation's history. How such a sweet disposition could have survived two world wars, the Great Depression, and the Edsel is a testament to the purity of her character. Graduating from San Jose State at the age of 19, she moved to Bakersfield to begin teaching kindergarten. She taught for 7 years, during which time she met and married Joseph Solomon. She later retired from teaching and became a full time mom. Who was Helen Solomon? She was a good sport. She was loving. She was pleasant. She was a natural comedienne – the funniest person in the family. She was generous. She was tidy. She stomped her feet when standing up to allow her pant legs to fall to their appropriate length. She was ticklish on her neck. She used words like "gooseflesh." She was pretty. She volunteered at the Guild House from its second year of existence until she was over 90 years old. She was a "Wheel of Fortune" wiz and played in 2 Bridge groups, often acing her opponents. She did "wash" every single Monday, even in the later years, when ironing moved to a more flexible, rotating schedule. She had a positive attitude that somehow relieved you of the need to complain about your own problems. For 50 years she fed her family everything from gum drop cookies to leg of lamb without mentioning the fact that she hated cooking. She was a Steinbeck – John Steinbeck's first cousin. She went to the Beauty Shop every Friday, followed by the Green Frog Market, and her daughter Libby's house for lunch. She loved splitting a meal at Mimi's Cafe. Her savage sweet tooth was tamed by a ration of Rocky Road candy bars in the pantry, Eskimo Pies in the freezer, and Dewar's Peppermint Stick ice milk on special occasions. She loved her husband, Joe. She loved her brother, Stanford. She loved her three kids, Lew, Lynn, and Libby. She loved her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. She loved her friends. Helen's faith in God was steadfast. As she approached the end of her life, she patiently looked forward to seeing her husband once again, as she knew he was waiting for her in heaven. For 96 years those of us who knew her were truly blessed to have her in our lives. Preceded in death by Joe Solomon – her husband beyond 'til death do us part'; her daughter, Lynn Reynolds. Helen is survived by her son, Lew Solomon and his wife, Linda; daughter, Libby Doolittle and her husband, Mike; her grandchildren, Pam, Peggy, Mark, Jeff, Jim, Susie, Andrew, Kristen, Ryan, and their respective families; 17 great- grandchildren and 2 great-great- grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, Helen would appreciate your kind donation go to the Henrietta Weill Child Guidance Clinic or your favorite charity. For additional service information, please contact Basham Funeral Care at 873-8200. Helen Solomon May 5, 1910 - July 17, 2006 Basham Funeral Care