Helen Gerber

Helen Gerber was born on June 10th, 1933 to Carmen & Elizabeth Adante in Boyle Heights, Ca. Between the day of her birth & the day of her passing on June 4th, 2014 Helen Gerber played many roles and wore many hats. She was a daughter, sister, mother & wife. She was a friend, a best friend, a neighbor. She was a church-goer. An Aunt by the name of Annie. She was a liver transplant survivor, a mother -in- law, a great grandmother, a member of the Paramount Elks lodge, the first Lady & Lady President. She was princess, lover of the beach, The Price is Right & the Dodgers. But, for me, Helen Gerber was Granny. I can't say I have known much about Granny in detail. She shared stories, of course, but I usually spent most of my time with Granny babbling on about my life. What I do know is that Granny dealt with adversity and obstacles in her life. All of which she overcame. I know she raised two beautiful daughters I have the privelege of calling mom & aunt & I know she eventually met & married Frank Gerber, who lovingly referred to my Granny as his chick-a-dee. If you are reading this then there is a good chance you know a lot about Granny and who she was. I ask that you hold sacred the memories of the woman that Helen Gerber was to you, but if you need a little help on some details I can tell you this. Granny was funny & sassy. She was honest & opininated. She was loving & kind. And most importantly, she was a devout Catholic that believed that by believing that Jesus Christ died for her sins and by His death & her believe in His death upon a cross, she would eventually leave this world & enter into Eternity. I know this because I asked Granny. I needed to know that she'd be in Heaven. And there she is. She finally made it home on a bright, sunny & warm Wednesday morning. The type of morning we may have found her attending a Sugar Plum festival or getting ready for lunch at Hof's Hut. She spent her last few moments with two of her most favorite people, my mom & Aunt. Or as Granny called them, Sam & Trace. It was exactly how she would have wanted it. Upon Granny's passing I have had the task, along with my sister & Grandpa of attending to many of the details. For me, that included trifling through Granny's things to find photos & paperwork. I found out a lot about Granny by doing so. I realized just how much she loved her family & friends. She kept every picture of you. Every card you sent & gift you gave. Granny's love & life was in the people she knew & loved & that is her legacy. She may have been sassy & maybe even a bit feisty sometimes. But she loved fiercely. If you don't believe me, the evidence is on her walls in picture frames & in photo albums filled with cards, newspaper clippings & announcments. So, maybe to you she was mom, mother in law, Annie, sister, friend, or chick-a-dee, but whatever roll she played in your life I know for a fact that you are a better person because she lived & I pray that you love as much as Granny did.