Service to honor life, memory of IU student

Students will gather 2 p.m. Saturday at Whittenberger Auditorium in remembrance of Helen Sarah Walker, whose life ended abruptly this summer after being struck by a drunk driver. \nWalker -- home for the summer -- was driving to her friend's Texas apartment. \nThe memorial will allow students who were close to Walker an opportunity to honor her life and achievements, said junior Ann Aurbach -- the event organizer and a close friend to Walker. \n"The service provides an opportunity for all friends and people who knew Helen to get together to remember her, to celebrate her life," she said. " "We need some closure to celebrate our time with her." \nWalker was slated to graduate in May with a double major in theater and drama and computer science with a minor in American sign language. She was actively involved in local theater, serving as stage manager for the Bloomington Player's production of "A Chorus Line," technical director for IU's Broadway Cabaret and was the University Players Technical Director, friends said. \nWalker was planning to move to Houston upon graduation to begin working as an assistant stage manager at the William H. Hobby Theatre. \nAurbach said the tone will be joyous, filled with reflection. \n"Rather than a somber service, we want people to laugh," Aurbach said.\nJunior Townsend Teague and graduate Maggie Mae Jacobs will speak to the audience, remembering Walker's impact. Anyone close to Walker or those that just want to show their support are invited to attend, Aurbach said.\nWalker's death came on the heels of summer break where dear friends went their separate ways, leaving a vacant spot in the hearts and minds of her friends, Kevin Mogyoros, a junior, said.\n"The service is difficult for a lot of friends because Helen died over the summer and we weren't able to share in the grieving process," he said. "This allows us to get together and share our individual memories of Helen."\nMogyoros was also involved in organizing the service. He said the mood of the service will be happy and lighthearted because that is how Helen would have wished it. \n"She was always upbeat and always had a smile," he said. "And that is the tone we are trying to foster." \nMogyoros said Walker can best be remembered as a friend. He said vestiges of Walker's hard work can still be felt today. \n"She was so many things to so many people," he said. "She contributed so much to this campus." \nFor Teague, Walker was a tremendous worker. \n"She didn't ask for anything from anybody," he said. "She put in endless, endless work."\nTeague said it's important that Helen be remembered for the volumes of time and effort she devoted to the Theater Department. \n"Theater is an art about people, Teague said. "And Helen is one of the people that make that happen"