Helen Louise Woodcock graduated from the University of Texas before beginning her career with the US Government. After retirement she received an MFA in art history and lived in NYC before returning to Austin, Texas and eventually resided in Portland, Oregon.
Our Aunt Helen was a remarkable woman who lived, worked and traveled all over the world. I like to think that she appreciates the revolving view above her beloved Paris, vineyards in all countries, and her favorite places: Bilbao, Fishers Island, Mexico City, Dubrovnik, Budapest, Santiago, New York City, Georgetown, Austin and Portland. The world was her oyster. . . and now it is so very appropriate that she orbits around it.
Helen loved French champagne. It was a priority, regardless of her financial state. While buying and restoring her tall/skinny Georgetown home, she ate canned beans to afford the work, but the beans were always accompanied by a good bottle of champagne. Helen could drink anyone under the table.
When I was a little girl in the 1950's, Aunt Helen was unlike any other "grown up" I knew. Her life as a career woman was an inspiration. She would arrive from some exotic, foreign place to spend Christmas with us, bringing sometimes very strange, but always lovely gifts, and then jump on a plane, ship or train and be gone.
She was one of the best huggers. Always holding on just a bit longer to make sure you knew she meant it.
I imagine sitting outside with my grandchildren under a moonlit sky, pointing up and saying, “Let me tell you about your Great, Great Aunt Helen.”
Salud!
