Helene Carol Rape' Serrano

Helene (AKA Mom and Grammy) was a force to be reckoned with.

She loved her children and grand-children with everything she had. She was so proud of each and every one of us that she would visit with one of her babies, then have to tell the next visitor all about their accomplishments.

When she was younger she enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping. She loved all things outdoor as long as her family was with her.

Grammy was a skilled crafter. She loved crocheting, plastic canvas work, painting, and bead work. She especially loved teaching all of her babies how to crochet or do any other craft.

Grammy crocheted some of the most beautiful blankets for her babies. She made rags, pot holders, and dish towels that none of us use because they're so beautiful, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Clause sets for everyone.

Grammy had a lifelong passion for animals of all shapes and sizes. She cared for so many horses, dogs, goats, and guinea pigs over the years that it would be impossible to list them all. She cared deeply for her animal companions and had once studied to become a vet.

She loved her TV programs as she got older. When she wasn't watching cartoons with her grandbabies or great-grandbabies, she watched too many crime shows to list. She enjoyed Dr. Phil, Mystery of Oak Island, almost anything on National Geographic and Animal Planet, and never missed the Kentucky Derby. Watching the beautiful horses run never failed to bring tears to her eyes.

Grammy is irreplaceable to two sets of five generations. She belonged to all of us. We'll carry her with us always and continue to pass down her work ethic and love for crafts and animals to our babies and their grandbabies.