Helen Sarver
Helen Sarver was not ordinary. She possessed inner beauty paired with timeless grace. Her optimistic perspective and wit demonstrated to us all that you can survive hard times and use that adversity to build a life abounded with love, family, friendship, and joy.
She grew up poor amidst the depression. Forced to wear a burlap sack to school, she turned it around to show the cleanest side. Moving from place to place, she lived in a harsh home environment. At 16, she married Red and had her first child, Judy. By 20, she divorced and found herself back in an abusive environment.
She worked as a telephone operator for Western Bell, and in 1944 New Years, her path turned in a fresh direction. In 2006, Herb and Helen celebrated 61 years together. She remained deeply in love with the man that changed her life. They had three boys, Denny, Larry, and Bob. She attempted to bring Judy back to live with her, but Laura Ohler would not release the child from her iron hand.
Helen embraced her role as a mother and wife and used that love to change the trajectory of her life for generations to come. Her husband was a complicated man. Early on, he told her, "Don't even think about leaving if you are not presentable."
She embraced that advice and set a standard that exemplified style and grace. Her beauty and optimism lit up every room. She dressed to impress, whether cleaning the house, grocery shopping, or playing Shanghai with their best friends, Carolyn and Fred. Her taste and elegance in fashion were impeccable and she paired it with a stoic but caring spirit.
Together they raised the children. She controlled her emotions yet balanced Herb's toughness. The children knew three rules by heart. Little boys are to be seen and not heard, Don't brag; if you have something to brag about, people will know, and Don't leave the table till you finished your meal.
A maverick ahead of her time, she epitomized female empowerment. She enjoyed herself and made no apologies. She embraced self-care and nurtured the relationships that mattered, just like the flowers and plants she loved. She spoke her mind and didn't hold back if she had something to say.
She loved decorating and possessed a trendsetting design flair. A style visionary, she created an open concept years before it became mainstream. Her home felt warm and inviting, and she loved entertaining. She quoted the golden rule, don't drink alone. So, whether it was hHghballs, Irish coffee, Jamison, Jack Daniels, a glass of wine, or McDonald's and a Bud Light, she relished the companionship of her friends and family.
She received her nickname from her first grandchild, Kim, who, as a child, stated the fact. You don't look like a grandma, so I'm going to call you Mimi. The name stuck. Mimi was a gracious entertainer, and her green shag carpeting and picture window overlooking the hillside represented a haven for her grandchildren. Each visit embodied safety and warmth like the fall colors that she loved. Whether it was fresh-baked gingerbread cookies, big red chewing gum, Piroulines in a red tin can, or a living room filled with blankets and forts, Mimi loved her children and grandchildren and invested in an individual relationship with each one.
Her life was a complicated tapestry that culminated in the joy she found during the last Chapter at St. Barnabus. A renaissance where she enjoyed the results of her life's work, an invincible icon, the epitome of how we all strive to age gracefully. An avid fox news watcher, she single-handedly tried to save the country one donation envelope at a time. As an Ambassador, painter, jazzercise enthusiast, and organizer for the Red Hat society, she thrived.
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Mimi taught us all that you can choose your path. Your circumstances do not define you; they simply provide a steppingstone to build your life armed with optimism, love, and respect for others. Like the Spruce tree that Mimi loved, timeless and immovable, she put down roots that will continue to spread and flourish for generations to come.