Helen Elizabeth Hope

Helen was born to Joseph Sylvester Brennan and Helena Katherine Phillip on January 30, 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This little family, in which she was an only child, was pretty well to do in that they had a row house and an automobile. Both of her parents were devoted to her care and well-being. As a young girl, Helen wanted to play the harp and she begged her father. He promised her if she played the piano for three years, she could play the harp. Helen held him to his promise and around 12 years old, she began harp lessons. This was the beginning of her life's path. Helen attended Catholic Grammar School, Catholic High School and Catholic College. In grammar school, Helen met a boy from the neighborhood, Len. Len said he was really impressed by her Daddy's car. Joe Brennan was impressed that Len loved baseball. Helen and Len were best friends. They shared Friday night card games and late night sandwiches. They eventually went to dances and football games and Len became her best friend and boyfriend. The path Helen and Len divided when Len went off to war and Helen came to Denver in September of 1946. Helen's hard work paid off when, at only 19 years of age, she begame Solo Harpist with the Denver Symphony. Helen came to Denver on her own, finding a boarding house to live in, and beginning a new career. Having to support herself, she made $25 a week with the Symphony and supplemented by teaching at Lamont School of Music, at Denver University. Helen met John Edward Lunn, a trombone player, who had coincidentally arrived on the same day. John was 25, also from the east coast, and also beginning his new career both with the symphony and teaching at Lamont. Helen and John found a new relationship and were engaged on January 10, 1947. They were married in the spring of the same year. During their 30 some years of marriage, Helen juggled her career and three children, John 'Buddy' Lunn, Pam Walters, Brad Lunn. In 1977 Helen ended her marriage to John and she and youngest son, Brad, were on their own. Grandma Brennan, being the wonderful woman that she was, wrote a lovely note to Len Hope, back in Philadelphia. This note stated that poor, dear Joe, was failing. His health was not good and by the way, their daughter, Helen, was single again. Len, being the devoted almost son, felt for Grandma Helen's situation and he wanted to come to Denver to give her support and visit 'poor Joe.' Now, Len's path had brought him back from the war in 1948. He married a lovely lady and had 5 lovely daughters. His youngest daughter, Ellen, then 18, accompanied or chaperoned her father on the compassion trip to Denver. Grandma Brennan, of course, arranged for Len and his daughter, Ellen, to stay near her and asked Helen to pick them up at the airport. Helen was never the same again. Their love was evident to everyone who was near. Len returned home, took care of his affairs and returned to Denver. Helen and Len were married in August of 1979. They began a marriage as true friends, as true lovers, each with the others' well being in their hearts. This was a love that would sustain them not only for the honeymoon years but also for the hard years of their lives. Mom continuted to play harp in the Symphony until her early 70's. She played shows and taught a few students. Len took care of her, which enabled her to continue. He went to every concert. He carried her harp. He cooked her scrambled eggs and bacon on weekend mornings. Looking from the outside in, one could not tell the hand from the glove. The early 90's brought a new challenge for this loving couple. Len got an infection in an already somewhat weakened heart and found he needed a heart transplant. The thought of losing Len brought Helen into action. She used every fiber in her being to extend his life. This became the fight for her own life...because she couldn't even think of being without her Len. Len received his gift of life in 1998. As we sat in the waiting room at University Hospital through the long, long surgery, Helen was terrified. The thought of losing Len was now a reality. For years she had only focused on the goal of getting the heart and now he was being wheeled into surgery. He was 72 years old and getting a new heart. Setting a new precedence for heart transplants because of Helen's determination and perseverance. The talented doctors of Colorado University Hospital kept this love story going. Len came through the surgery and recovery with flying colors and they shared another 10 years. The two of them battled their individual age ailments but they were truly appreciative for each other and for the life they were enjoying. They loved their days together until May 3rd of 2008 when Len passed away on a Saturday morning, making eggs for his best friend. Helen was never the same after Len's passing, the light in her eyes dimmed; she felt that no one could understand her loss. She had never known unconditional love until she and Len were married. Her life from 1947 until 1979 had given her a career, children, family, but Len had given her love. Helen loved the ocean and Len was her shore. Len was her mountain and she was the setting sun making a vision, which will always be etched in our hearts. All the expressions we can think of that describe what love is...they shared. The confort of knowing they are once again together makes our loss more peaceful. Helen leaves a family who loved her and will always miss her. She is survived by her 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. Memorial Service Saturday, February, 2, 2013 at 10:00am., Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 East County Line Road (One block west of South Holly Street) in Centennial, Colorado 80122. Memorial contributions may be made in Helen's name to Make a Wish Foundation 7951 East Maplewood Avenue, Suite 186, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111. Please share your memories of Helen and condolences with her family by signing the Guestbook.