Leon County Cooks - A Friend Lost

Helen Vidaurri loved cooking for her kids at Oakwood School. Sherry's Shots The first time I met Helen Vidaurri was at the Oakwood School Cafeteria and she had prepared a meal for the Board of Trustees. She had cooked chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, chocolate pie, coconut pie and homemade bread. Everything was made from scratch. No instant potatoes, no pre-breaded meat. She even made her own pie crusts. Not only did she cook the food, she served it and she did so with a beautiful smile. Before the Board left she told them that she had cooked a loaf of fresh bread for each one.

That was the night I asked if she would consider being a Leon County Cook. Of course, she didn't really want to do it but she agreed to, probably because she felt sorry for me. We set up a time and I came back to the school to get her picture and information for her story.

She told me how early she came into work and began preparing breakfast for the kids. She said that she preferred to work alone and would not use a food processor. And she told me how much she enjoyed seeing the kids and faculty eat what she had prepared.

That story ran in the Buffalo Press in February and last week, Helen was laid to rest. She was diagnosed with cancer shortly after the interview and it is hard to believe that she will no longer be at the Oakwood School preparing those wonderful meals for her beloved children.

If this story does nothing else for you, at least let it remind you of the precious gift of life and the ability to make someone else's life a little better. Helen was known for going the extra mile and that is one thing for which she will be remembered. In memory of Helen we will not have recipes this week.