In
Memory of Carleen Halen
"Carleen Halen"
Just a small tribute
to the lady with the largest heart when it came to children. She
guarded them, she protected them and at times I wondered if she
was an Angel in human form? She did not just look after
her own, she looked after everyone's kids, anyone's kids.
You remember her, she was the one you did not worry leaving your
child at practice with, because you knew she would stay there
till the end, to make sure no one was hurt, hungry, thirsty, depressed
or left without a ride. Baseball, Football and even Basketball
kept her busy, sports was not all she did. She would stand
in front of Winn Dixie single handedly collecting money for Poinciana
children that would not have had a merry Christmas without her
standing there begging. Her wonderfully warm friend Linda
would take her on these crazy shopping trips, Carleen said Linda
could always make those dollars stretch as they competed with
each other to see who could get the most for the kids with the
least amount of money. They would sit around wrapping each
gift, find a Santa Claus, usually Poinciana Patrol and then deliver
each gift with love and laughter. The only sadness at all
came when it was over and they realized they had only scratched
the surface of the children who needed a Christmas. She
lobbied Fire Service for a rescue unit to reach the children in
the shortest amount of time to be cared for by the most qualified
of Paramedics. Thanks to her efforts, Osceola County has
addressed and is still addressing the Public Safety of the residents
of this community.
I'm sorry you couldn't
stay awhile longer my friend, but I sure am glad your spirit touched
mine.
Handle, "Traci"
The
Three Musketeers
We were the three musketeers.That can never change.
I so miss her hugs at the park on the week end.
She was always so happy and full of life.
I saw her the week before she died ,at Wheeler Park in the
score keepers booth,and she was just having a ball.
Carleen, (Traci) came down,gave me a hug,asked about M.J.
and Luci,as she always did,and went back up to keep score.
Who could have guessed that would be the last time we'd
talk?
I think I just made my tribute.
Love,Bob
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"Traci's
Wreath"
Carleen brought the wreath over to my
house when we were setting up my
truck & trailer for the "Inside Poinciana"
float that was to be in the Christmas Parade..
She said, "throw it away after the parade,",but
I kept it anyway..
She died the year after,but I still put up "her"
wreath on my house in her memory..
Dolphin 407
For those of you who did not have the honor of meeting our
dear friend, Carleen Halen, her handle on the Chat Board
was Traci. She used that handle in memory of the child
she and her husband Jim lost many years ago.
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