Cooking for one person is not at all enjoyable.

The piano sits in Helen’s living room. She and her husband, Murray, bought it years ago for their daughter. “But after six weeks,” Helen says, “she decided she didn’t want to play the piano.” Murray, though, took a shine to it. “My husband taught himself how to read music,” she says, proudly. “He taught himself how to play.”

Now, the piano sits untouched. Murray passed away two years ago. “For me, it’s recent,” says Helen. “Every day is hard.”

The couple were married for 66 years — 60 of them spent in this very house in Marine Park, Brooklyn. From the art and photos decorating the walls to the sheet music still on the music stand, it’s full of cherished memories. Helen and Murray raised their three children here. She couldn’t imagine leaving. “I started here,” says Helen, “and I’ll probably end here.”  

At 89 years old, Helen is in good health, but she needs help with her balance. “I have a little walker,” she says. “It’s a small one and I’m great with that.” Helen can even maneuver it up and down the front steps of her house. Though, she has to be careful. “You know, I don’t run,” she says. “I go slow.”

She spends most of her time at home, reading or doing crossword puzzles. Helen’s children are all in their 60s. They live nearby, but they have busy schedules, jobs and children of their own. “During the day, I’m very often alone.” Except twice a week, when Helen plays mahjong.

She has a group that gathers every Monday and Thursday to play. Helen says the game is more luck than strategy. “You can be the greatest player, but if you don’t get good tiles, nothing is going to happen,” she says. She enjoys playing, but what she really enjoys is the company, especially when she and her friends go out for lunch afterwards.

Meals are just one of things that have become difficult since Murray’s death. “I really used to enjoy cooking so much for my family. It was something I loved to do,” says Helen. “But cooking for one person is not at all enjoyable.” Helen has been receiving home-delivered meals for over a year now. “They fill in what I no longer do.”

Citymeals helps relieve the burden of meal planning and preparing. “I appreciate the fact that I know the meals will be delivered,” she says. “Knowing that I can have a healthy meal delivered to my door is so wonderful.”