Helen Kurtz ran a small family owned pizzeria, but pizza was not her specialty. Helen was known for her famous spaghetti and meatballs; everybody loved her spaghetti and meatballs. Wife, mother, business owner and exceptional spaghetti cook, who could ask for anything more?

But one day Helen received some bad news. She had gone to the doctor and the tests came back with the dreaded “C” word, Cancer. It didn’t look good. But Helen was a fighter, she fought that cancer and she won. Yes, that cancer went into remission. Life was good.

But it did not last, for eventually the cancer returned. This time it was terminal, she had 2 months to live. But Helen did not despair for she was a fighter.

Helen called all her friends, and then she started cooking. She made a huge pot of spaghetti and gathered all her friends together at her house. There she served them all spaghetti and meatballs. She then passed out the recipe and broke the news about her cancer.

You see rather than have everyone mourn her after she had passed; Helen brought them all together to celebrate life. It was her special way to say “Goodbye” to everyone.

Helen passed away shortly afterwards, but she left us with a legacy. A legacy written on recipe cards, a legacy written with love. So the next time you sit down for a plate of spaghetti and meatballs remember Helen Kurtz.

She taught us the lesson that we need to love those who are with us now while they are here, not after they are gone. She taught us to celebrate life, all with a plate of spaghetti and meatballs.