Helen Doria Obituary

Dear Marie,
My sincere condolences to you and your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Jim and Rosie: it's been a long time however will never forget the Doria's. I lost a close friend on Christmas Eve and came across the Doria name in the notices. I am so very sorry for your loss. If your sister met up with my friend, no doubt they are both in great company and discussing how they can straighten out Chicago. Please accept my condolences.

Helen was by far one of the most connected, passionate and energetic advocates for the arts and artists in Chicago. Her smile and laughter, her probing questions, her spirit of inclusion will be deeply missed. As they say in Ghana when an important leader passes away, " a great tree has fallen." Certainly, Chicago has lost an important advocate, innovative programmer and true and devoted friend. I will miss her deeply.

Helen was the most awesome individual and I feel privileged to have known her and worked with her. She was not only the extraordinary, caring, brilliant, insightful and inclusive individual that was loved by so many varied and many, but I believe she found her true spirituality. I hope and believe that Helen found great comfort from within as well as from all who were around her who I know she loved very much.
I miss Helen very much.

My heart goes out to the family, I worked w/ Helen at the Park Dist. & alot of us are just finding out about this. Helen will truly be missed.

I only just learned of Helen's passing. I worked with Helen at the Chicago Park District. Helen was always so positive and so enthusiastic. I am sure that heaven will have some wonderful upgrades, but on earth we will surely miss her and her great smile and laugh. Please accept my deepest condolences.

Helen was one of the great cultural leaders of this city. It is up to us to carry on her work to continue to make Chicago a better, thriving city.

I only just heard about Helen's passing -- what a great lady! She made enormous contributions to Chicago, and we will miss her energy, imagination, and spirit.

Aunt Marie and all the Doria family,
We are so very sorry for your loss. Remembering Mark's dear cousin Helen and picturing them together in heaven. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you all. Love, Donna Nicole and Zach

Our family was saddened to hear of the loss of your dear Helen. Please accept our condolences. Comfort can be found in meditating on the account found at Matthew 5:38-42.

My deepest sympathy to the Doria family.

Extending my deepest sympathies to the Doria Family and holding you in my thoughts and prayers.

My deepest sympathies to Helen's family and friends. I had the privilege to work with Helen at the Park District many years ago, and she was not only an inspiration as a colleague but more importantly as a person. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Aunt Marie and the Doria family,
We just found out about Helen yesterday. We are very sorry for your loss.Our thoughts and prayers are sent your way from Colorado.

My deepest sympathy to the Doria Family. My prayers are with you.

My deepest condolences to the Doria family. I had the opportunity to work with Helen on many projects and she was always generous with her time, ideas, creative genius and support. May her laugh and bright spirit always bring your family comfort. My prayers are with you.

'So grateful for the season in which I knew Helen and the times she brightened my day with her smile and encouragement. God bless...

I am so sad to hear of Helen's passing. We had just worked together a few weeks ago so this comes as a shock. She was a real force in the arts and her amazing smile and great humor will be greatly missed.

Helen's creativity and indomitable spirit were such an inspiration to so many. She was a mentor to me offering
encouragement and great nuggets of wisdom. Her loss is felt deeply for so many. I always felt better knowing
Helen was involved - I knew whatever it was would be successful because of her.

It was my pleasure to work with Helen and admire her many talents and passions. My condolences go out to her family and circle of close, long-time friends.

Helen, I will miss you, the way we had lunch and dinner with friends, laughed a lot and just hung out here at home and in other great cities.
Your work with the City Parks Alliance still has impact throughout the nation today!
Helen Doria a phenomenal human being, irreplaceable!
Eunita Rushing, Chicago, IL

Your gifts to family, friends and community were great. Our loss can only be softened by appreciating your love and generosity and cherishing our gifts from you.
Peace to you dear friend
Nancy Bellew

Helen was an unforgettably lovely and generous person. We will celebrate her life and her legacy from this time forward.

My deepest condolences. Helen was a great friend from years back. I'm so sorry to hear the news.

My Deepest condolences, my prayers are with the family.

Deepest sympathies to Helen's family and friends on the loss of a truly interesting person who had a deep belief in doing good for the public. Her work will live long in the arts community. In my mind she will always be the person who worked to reform the Air and Water show, making great suggestions that first time I met her walking around the lakefront.

aunt marie so sorry to hear about helen my prayers are with you kenny

Oh that laugh, we will always remember that laugh!!

Dear Marie,
You and your husband were so supportive of us at Queen of Peace High School. I remember you, your husband, and Helen very well from those days. What a wonderful girl Helen was, and how good your family. My condolences to you and your family. You are all in my prayers.
Pat Donahoe (formerly, Sister Imo)

Dear Marie,
When I babysat for your extraordinary family, Dolly, your beloved Helen, was so loving and helpful. I couldn't wait to come into your home. She had a sparkling sense of humor for such a young child and was so affectionate and tender toward her brothers and sisters. You and Joe did an exemplary job in raising your family. My thoughts are with you in your loss.
Sheila Quinlan Tobin

Pax
I have made a covenant with Life;
Neither of us asks for much.
Life asks me to take all that passes my way,
Some sorrow, some grief, some strife.
I ask Life to allow me to touch,
To love and share laughter during my stay.
Sheila Quinlan Tobin

My prayers are with you and your family.

My deepest sympathy to the Doria family on the passing of their wonderful daughter, Helen. May the memories you hold closest to your heart, comfort now in your sorrow. Helen will truly be missed by her family, friends and colleagues, she was a joy to know and work with.

Maxine Leftwich

Jim,
We pray memories of your loving sister, will carry you and your family through this tough period...and also pray God to grant you the strength and fortitude to bear the loss.

Through her commitment and engagement with the arts, Helen was a gift to all Chicago. She was a dear friend to those of us who had the honor to know and love her. She will be missed in so many ways.

Marie: I am so sorry for the loss of your daughter Helen. I know how hard this is to accept as I also lost a son. May Helen rest in peace and I will pray for her. Dorothy Pawelski

Marie, I was so sorry to hear of the passing of your daughter. My deepest sympathies to you and your famiy. You and Helen will be remembered in my prayers. May she rest in peace.

I had the fortune of Helen's life intersecting with mine at several points during the past 20 some years. She was a true friend. Her contributions to Chicago's cultural community will be a living legacy for many years to come. My wife & I share the deep feelings of loss with her family, friends and community.

A true spirit of Chicago, I hope we honor Helen's legacy by continuing to create cultural public spaces all can enjoy!

I was lucky enough to know Helen through the Chicago Jazz Partnership project. She was inspiring and FUN. I am so sorry she is gone. I am better for having known her.

Helen's passion for the parks and making art accessible greatly enhanced so many lives. We were blessed to have known her and our City benefited greatly from her talent and commitment to its public venues. Helen will be sorely missed.

Helen was a true pioneer, a breath of fresh air coupled with a kind spirit. Helen's legacy will live on through the many lives she touched. So long for now Helen until we meet again.

Helen was that bright light - - that burst of energy and passion that will live on in our hearts and minds. She introduced me to Young Women's Leadership Charter School - - - and much much more. I will never forget her. It's impossible once you've had the fortune to meet her. Rest in peace dear Helen.
Love, Dana

Our dear friend Helen. We will forever be guided by your passion for life, for humanity, for kindness and so much more. Your vibrancy and uplifting spirit will always be with us. With love and gratitude. Lucia Mauro and Joe Orlandino

Helen's family and friends can be comforted that she lived a life full of love, accomplishment and great passion for culture and the arts - a legacy she has left for all of us.

I will never forget when I was in a meeting with Helen and afterward, she sat at a piano that was in the room and started playing. I was blown away. My deepest sympathy to her family. She will be sorely missed!

Helen Doria leaves an enormous legacy. She was deeply involved in the transformation of the Chicago Park District to be responsive to the people of the neighborhoods. Thanks to her, Millenium Park is a place that is welcoming and well used by the public-- she worked to make the park serve the people. She will be greatly missed.

Doria family and friends, I hope you are able to be comforted throught the scriptures. 2 Cornth. 1,4

Goodbye, my dear sweet friend.

What a gift she gave, just sharing this life with her. Helen's legacy is both physical in the spaces she programmed, and spiritual in the lives she influenced. Those who knew her will try even harder in her honor.