Helen Lynnwood Woody Stowe

At the age of 91, On December 5, 2024, Helen Lynnwood Woody Stowe passed away a few minutes after midnight. Her room was full of the soft light from a little Christmas tree and her favorite lantern, a water light with gently swirling snow and red cardinals inside of it. The buttery yellow walls of Lynn's nursing home room were covered with photographs of her large family and beloved husband of 73 years, Caleb Stowe. Caleb passed away down the hall from Lynn on August 19, 2024. We know that Caleb was standing close by with his arms open as the veil to the other side lifted and Lynn departed from this life.

Lynn is survived by her four daughters, Susan Stowe Reppert, Lily Stowe Beninate, Helene Stowe Szarmach, and Mary Cale Angelelli, their husbands Jim Dickson, Jerry Beninate, Steve Szarmach, and Matthew Angelelli, her 12 grandchildren (Meghan, Caleb, Claibourne, Tori, Nicholas, Jessica, Steven, Nathan, Nancy Lynn, Christopher, Kate, and Camille), and their spouses (John, Nicole, Jake, Lauren, Sebastian, Adrienne, Annie, and Ryan),and her 10 great-grandchildren (Joe, Remi, Annabelle, Avon, Ned, Eloise, Tristan, Everett, Elijah, and Calla). In total Lynn leaves behind 37 beloved family members including her dear sister, Shirley Sandidge.

Lynn grew up in Lynchburg Virginia to Helen and Raymond Woody. When she was very young her father owned a dance hall. After a destructive fire, Lynn's father and mother decided to open a gas station and convenience store close to home. Her mother managed the accounts for the business and cooked barbeque daily for the store while wearing the latest fashion, heels and red lipstick. Lynn's father kept a long cigar in his mouth and supplied the business with goods and customers. Lynn often said, 'My dad was the real Santa Claus.' He started his Christmas shopping in June and decorated the outside of their house every Christmas with many colored lights to cheer the neighborhood. Lynn inherited a love for fashion and style, the ability to organize efficiently, the talent for cooking, an interest in merchandise, and a true love for Christmas from her parents.

Lynn met Caleb in seventh grade. She was a petite beauty and wore a large green sweater and big watch on her little wrist. Caleb tapped her on the shoulder every day to ask her the time. Caleb said when he met Lynn, she was sweet, quiet, and organized with a steady temperament and impeccable style. Her daughters would say the same things about their mom in years to come. She was the gentlest, kindest, humblest, most organized, and cutest lady they ever knew. Lynn's small frame, fairy-like face with pointy nose and big brown eyes, combined with her confidence in the outfit she selected for the day made her always appear elegant and put together her whole life.

Lynn inherited a love for organization, creativity, and hard work from her parents. As a young woman, Lynn enjoyed her job in a bank in Lynchburg, Virginia. Later Lynn earned her real estate license and worked at Caleb Stowe and Associates. Much of her time, however, was spent partnering with Caleb on investment properties. Lynn's talent for aesthetics was a true asset for the married couple. She could transform an ordinary plain space into something that was visually outstanding and appealing to all who entered it. Lynn had a natural knack for choosing a good fixer upper, for architectural concepts during construction, and for exterior and interior home design. Over the years Lynn collected beautiful antiques and oriental rugs. Her collection was carefully hand selected reflecting her love for early American furniture, vibrant colors, and interesting textiles. Lynn layered her homes with lush green plants, traditional artwork, hand-made pottery, ornate silver, etched glassware, and bone china. Lynn could organize, pack, move, unpack, and have a new place set up in no time. Her four daughters always said, "Home is where our mom is, wherever she is, that is home." Watching her organize a move was a delight for the family. Unpacking boxes she packed felt joyful.

Caleb and Lynn filled their homes with the pitter patter of little feet over their many years together. Lynn was nineteen years old when her eldest daughter, Susan, was born, then twenty-three when Lil was born, twenty-six when Helene came into the world, and finally thirty-six when Mary Cale, the youngest, unexpectedly arrived. In time the homes that Lynn created and loved were filled with sons in laws, with grandchildren, and with great grandchildren. Often there were dogs, one time a litter of puppies, and occasionally horses roaming around in paddocks outside.

Even though Lynn was a little lady she was a big cook. Invariably when her family thinks of Lynn, the wonderful food she made over many decades comes quickly to mind. Around the holidays Lynn would cook for days, making turkeys, hams, wild caught game, different tasty and colorful side dishes, with pies galore. In the summer she would make homemade peach ice cream and the best layered salads. During football season, Lynn would pack a feast for tailgates including fried chicken, biscuits, deviled eggs, cookies, and wine. Everyone remembers Lynn's meals, from turkey sandwiches and ginger ale to meatloaf and rolls, to her famous hermit cake recipe that she made every Christmas passed down from her great grandma Lily Smoot.

Lynn loved to travel, and cherished traveling with her sister and daughters, with many photo albums to show for it. Her favorite trips include visits to Manhattan, adventures to Europe, and cruising the seas. Lynn loved to shop, whether it was shopping at home, or shopping on her travels. Stores resonated fond memories of her childhood. In a store on her travels, she could soak up the local culture and learn about the people. Lynn was not a huge spender. She was a treasure hunter!

Lynn took great pleasure in volunteering at Martha Jefferson Hospital for over a decade. Helping others at the hospital was both social and meaningful for her and she brought kindness and support to everyone who met her. Her good-hearted, patient, and gentle nature put people at ease. She was a loyal and devoted wife and mother but it is important to mention that she was also quietly stubborn, sometimes obstinate, a person who did not compromise on her values, beliefs and opinions.

Dying just after midnight during the Christmas season is a fitting farewell for Lynn. She had a bit of Cinderella in her with a dash of Santa Elf sprinkled on top. Full of grace and femininity she was a beautiful homemaker. When asked what her favorite holiday was, Lynn would say, "Thanksgiving, but I love Christmas too!" She loved Thanksgiving because her family was usually all around her. She loved Christmas because she preferred colder weather, and was comforted by a glowing fireplace, a soft wool sweater, and fresh greenery tied with a red velvet bow against the gray silhouettes of winter. Gift giving was her love language. Every year she would make a list of family members. She would check off names as she purchased gifts and wrapped them with care. This is the first year without presents from Lynn, but she did her best to give a loving compassionate departure to loved ones. It was a slow fade each day moving a little closer to letting go of each breath, offering family time to sit with her, love her and say goodbye properly.

After Caleb died Lynn took a silver pendant necklace out of her jewelry box and put it around her neck. She had not worn it for a very long time. The necklace was given to her by the teenage farm boy she loved. One side was inscribed with his name and the other inscribed with hers. God be with both of you until we meet again. Thank you mama, for teaching us so much about the most important thing in life- love.