Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Dear Family of Helen Polenz,
I would like to share with you that your Helen shares a special place in my heart and always will. Since my personal diagnosis with scleroderma and all my special times with her, I came to know a woman of great strength and character, great wisdom, great faith, and a great commitment to the service of those with scleroderma. Helen stood by me when I became the leader of the Capital District Scleroderma Support Group at Sunnyview Hospital. Before each monthly meeting, I would drive and pick up Helen. Her personal determination was to provide each scleroderma patient with as much support as possible. We traveled to Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC to attend Scleroderma Foundation/Tri-State Chapter Educational Forums, to the Capitol in Washington D.C. to speak to Senators, and Legislators regarding research funding for scleroderma. When Helen spoke they listened (I listened too). Helen and I would go for rides to look at fall foliage, Christmas lights throughout Schenectady, and once in a while she would let me treat her at a restaurant. Many times when I would get to her house to pick her up, she would say, "we are not going out...we are eating here". Many times we would look through all Helen's photo albums, which included family photos and lots of trips to all parts of the world! She would share special memories of all her travels! I remember the Saturday I called Helen because I had made special plans to take her to the Rose Garden in Schenectady. To my surprise Helen shared that she used to volunteer every spring and fall to ready the garden for the public! I thought I was going to surprise Helen...but as usual...she surprised me. Helen was never someone who wanted a lot of luxury and I believe she felt those things were frivolous. She was an avid reader. Helen taught me a lot and I owe so many wonderful memories and much gratitude to her for taking me under her wings and believing in me and being my special friend. Whenever I visited her at the Teresian House Helen would take me on a tour and even walk me to the front entrance upon my leaving. The last times I visited, we would usually just sit in her room and I would remind her of all we did together! She'd always show me the photos of her family on her armoire. I would always remark on her plants and many times flowers that were given to her by family members. Helen Polenz I will never forget you and I will always love you!
With much gratitude and love to one of the Dearest Ladies and Heroes I will ever meet!
June Bender
