Helena Mae Christensen
Eleven years ago, I started writing the weekly column “Jane’s World.” The name is a spoof of the corny movie called Wayne’s World. Over the years, I’ve written about tough subjects ranging from my dad’s untimely death at age 52 to my sister’s at age 66 from Alzheimer’s, Black Lives Matter, abortion, alcoholism, loving an aging parent, and suicide.
Recently I was asked to write my granddaughter’s obituary. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever written. Thankfully, not many grandparents will ever be asked to do this.
As you read this, please say my granddaughter’s name out loud and help keep her memory alive.
Helean Mae Christensen 8/14/2001 – 6/20/2024
In the early morning of the summer solstice, Helena Mae Christensen (22) left our world after a tragic car accident.
Since her earliest childhood, Helena was known to entertain her family with wild dance routines or crazy skits, often resulting in making herself laugh as loud as the others. She loved a fast-paced game of Spoons on New Year's Eve along with banging pots and pans at midnight.
Traditions were important to Helena, from having her dad lift her to hang the star on top of the Christmas tree to sparklers, parades, and fireworks on the Fourth of July. Family vacations were never dull and were always full of laughter.
Helena was an animal whisperer. Even Peens, the family cat that likes nobody, would wait for her to come home and follow her for cuddles. All the family cats wanted to be with Helena in her bedroom, where she gave them all love—the kind of love she craved for herself.
There were up and down and all-around days for Helena, as well as for her family and those who loved her. Headstrong, and reluctant to prioritize her own needs ("others first" was her motto), Helena struggled throughout her life with cystic fibrosis and mental health challenges.
Throughout the years, it was normal to find a cast of characters, often down on their luck, that Helena would bring home. If she could have saved the world, she would have. Her friends claim she was the life of a party and the glue that held them all together. Music had a special place in her heart and was a large part of Helena's life.
Mornings were never Helena's favorite. She'd rather wrap herself in one of her many fuzzy blankets and hold out for the evening—a true lover of the moon, the stars, campfires, s'mores, and adventures.
Helena found freedom in driving, loved sunsets, was a fan of her mother's cooking, was crazy about her shoes which she carefully displayed on top of the boxes they came in, and had her own way of saying things. Her term for the game Hide and Seek was "Be Aware!" which she'd yell mid-game, worried the family would scare each other.
Helena graduated from Whitnall High School in 2019. She was preceded in death by her beloved Gram, Mary Ann Schmidt, and her Auntie, Jill Schmidt.
Helena will be deeply missed by her loving parents, Brad and Jessica; brother Ethan (Natalie); grandparents Dean Christensen (Ann), Kerri McWithey (Carl), and Jane Schmidt (Dane Thompson); Uncle Matt Christensen (Missy); family friend Suzie Bober; and a large extended family of Christensens and Youngs.
In death, Helena is still helping others. She was a believer in second chances, and while the family is devastated Helena won't get one, they hope other people will benefit from her being a donor.
At this time there are no funeral arrangements. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
Dear Helena,
May you keep dancing and keep the light on for us.
Love,
Grandma Riley (Jane)