Grandma, 97, Missed Her Prom Due to Poverty So Her Granddaughter Took Her to One

When a woman discovered that her grandmother had missed out on a list of fun childhood activities, such as sitting on Santa's lap and attending prom, she decided to do something about it. For one thing, she surprised her grandma with a crown and a special invitation.

Helen Danis from West Warwick, Rhode Island, had been through countless experiences since the 1920s, but prom wasn't one of them. Despite sheer longing, she had to forgo the magical evening in 1939 as it was the end of the Great Depression, and her family didn't have the money to buy her a dress, new shoes, or makeup.

Helen was an only child whose mother passed away five days after giving birth. Until the age of six, Helen stayed with her grandmother, but when her father remarried, she was brought up by her stepmother.

A Life Full of Struggles

Money was scarce for Helen's family, especially after her father lost his job working at the mill, and her stepmom's salary from a department store was all they had. Thereafter, she missed her high school dance and stayed home.

With nothing but admiration and love for her lovely grandma, she came up with a brilliant idea.

But that wasn't all she experienced as a child. Helen said she began feeling like a fish out of water and decided to drop out of school after realizing she couldn't keep up with the other schoolchildren.

A year later, in 1940, she tied the knot with a millworker named Lionel Valliere. The couple built a beautiful life together and had three kids—two daughters and a son.

Sadly, Valliere died of brain cancer in 1956, and after his demise, Helen had to find a job in the sewing section of a department store to provide for her children as a single mother.

The West Warwick resident said she remarried thrice and outlived two of her life partners. Later, she tied the knot with a former businessman, Eugene Danis, and in 2019, the pair celebrated 27 years of marital bliss. Despite their active lifestyle, Helen noted that her husband wasn't fond of dancing, which she enjoyed wholeheartedly.

Creating a Bucket List

Although Helen experienced countless challenges, nothing could dull her cheerful spirit. Over the years, her children grew up and embarked on new adventures, and as her family expanded, Helen took on new roles and became a grandmother and great-grandma.

One day in 2019, she sat with her granddaughter, Julie Huddon, who had always wanted to know more about her grandma's life. Julie said her grandmother had led a cumbersome life with many uncomfortable memories.

In December 2018, Julie noticed Helen's face light up when she sat on Santa Claus' lap for the first time. Soon afterward, Julie recalled that a relative advised her to create a bucket list for her grandma—an idea that she loved since she knew how much Helen had endured throughout her life.

Julie, who was incredibly close to Helen, wished to do something to help add some fun to her grandmother's final years. "[Helen] was telling me about the prom, how she couldn't go because she couldn't afford it," recounted Julie.

A Sweet Proposal

Although the grandmother and her granddaughter were above the average age for promgoers at the time, Julie was determined to turn things around. With nothing but admiration and love for her lovely grandma, she came up with a brilliant idea.

Julie went to Pilgrim High School, where her 19-year-old son Evan Huddon was a senior, and talked to the principal, Gerald Habershaw. Fortunately, she convinced Habershaw to allow her and Helen to attend the prom alongside young Evan. Then she got to work, putting the plan into action.

Soon afterward, she surprised her grandmother with a gorgeous crown and a sweet heart-shaped pink note, inviting her to the enchanting evening. When Helen saw her granddaughter's touching "promposal," she was awestruck and instantly agreed, and Julie bought a stunning lilac dress for her grandma.

A Memorable Night

On May 24, 2019, Julie, 48, and her prom date, Helen, 97, arrived at Pilgrim High School on a trolley. Helen donned the beautiful gown and ditched heels for a pair of comfortable shoes so she wouldn't have trouble showing her favorite moves.

Wearing matching corsages, the ladies were escorted to the dance floor, where Helen danced to Hully Gully (a line dance from the 60s), the Cha-Cha Slide, and the Cupid Shuffle. Evan, who had spina bifida, enjoyed his senior school prom dancing from his power wheelchair.

Later in the evening, Helen danced with Habershaw and was crowned the honorary prom queen. "It was such a blessing to have my great-grandmother go to the prom with me, and it was even more special to see her crowned honorary prom queen," shared Evan.

"I was just so happy to see her so happy, she had a smile that didn't leave her face," recollected Julie when asked about her grandma's reaction to the prom. On the other hand, Helen admitted that she had such a wonderful time attending her first prom that she would gladly relive it again. She added:

"Well, if they know how to do the 'Hully Gully,' I'll do it again."

What are your thoughts on this story? Julie asking her grandma to prom was thoughtful and heartwarming, and we're glad they had a memorable night to cherish for the rest of their lives.

If you liked reading this story, click here to read another about a boy who took his grandma to her first prom to give her the best memories in her final months.