In Loving Memory Helaine Cunningham

On Wednesday night I returned home late from work to discover alongside my family that my mother had passed away from her fight against stomach cancer. As some of you may know, the last two years have been filled with tears, too many visits to the oncologist and other specialists, difficulties with chemo, etc. We knew her time was limited but that moment was devastating and so final. 

My mother has touched so many people's lives. She was the most generous person I've ever known. In my early years, she would buy a hunk of American cheese and baloney on the modest grocery budget to make all of my friends sandwiches after our play dates. When my sister's close friend Greg could not pay his rent, she gifted him the money. When her sister's, my aunt Ruth-Ann, car broke down and needed one to get to work, my mother brought her a brand new one on credit. She devoted countless hours helping all my friends proof reading and editing their college essays. I could go on and on, but I'm sure many of you guys have your own special memories of her generosity.   

She was also the most loving person I've ever known. She loved everyone without regard to skin color, sexual orientation, or religion. When my young male cousin wanted a Barbie doll for Christmas, she didn't hesitate when she went into Target to get the exact model he wanted. Walking down the street with her best friend who wore a hijab never bothered her. She raised my cousin Richard and treated him as her own.

I created this page to honor my beautiful mother and to help alleviate the cost of her service. While she was the most giving person I've known, she was generous to a fault. If she touched your life personally or her story did and you are in the position to donate my family and I would be so appreciative