Each hit of the hammer and buzz of the saw serve to remind Mary Bellon's friends of how she gave to families in need.

Bellon worked for Habitat for Humanity in many capacities for more than 10 years, from feeding volunteers to organizing an annual golf tournament. After her death late last year, her husband, children and many friends are building Habitat houses in her memory. They're helping build one this summer in Hillsdale and are planning a second house next summer in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.

"It's a tangible way for people to work through their grief and sadness and make something good grow out of a tragedy," said Ann Travis, a friend who helped organize the effort. "Mary would have absolutely loved this. And I know she knows we're doing it."

Travis is the one who got Bellon involved in Habitat. "Mary and I both lived in nice homes, and we always felt that was a real blessing in our lives." The two friends, both University City residents active in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, wanted to enable others to have the same blessing. "I always say Mary was the gift I gave Habitat," Travis said.

Bellon's joyfulness was well-known to her friends and family. So it wasn't surprising that she was singing one of her favorite songs, "Twist and Shout," in the car as the family returned from dinner last Thanksgiving weekend. Once home, she jumped out of the car - still dancing - and swung around the pole of the family's basketball hoop. But the base of the pole had rusted out underground, and it crumbled. The pole came down on her head, and Bellon died at age 57.

At her wake, Don Bellon, her husband of 33 years, and Travis decided it would be fitting to build a house in her memory. By Valentine's Day, with the help of an all-parish dance, Bellon's family and friends had raised $90,000 without making a single phone call to solicit money.

So this summer, a house is going up on Oakdale Avenue in Hillsdale. Many of those helping at the build are from Our Lady of Lourdes. Old grade school and high school friends also have shown up, working alongside the future homeowner and volunteers from McBride & Son, a home-building company. The homeowner is a working mother with four daughters.

Habitat houses are built by volunteers and future homeowners with financial support from organizations, religious groups, businesses and individuals. The house recipients are required to work at least 450 hours of "sweat equity" on the homes.

Mary's House is part of Habitat's summer build on Oakdale and Edmund avenues in Hillsdale, just off St. Louis and Kienlen avenues. Eventually, 32 houses will be built in Hillsdale.

The Hillsdale location is especially appropriate for Mary's House because it lies within Our Lady of Lourdes' "twin" parish. Twinning matches affluent parishes with ones that are needy. Bellon also had worked at a food pantry in Hillsdale.

At Habitat's first blitz build a few years ago, Bellon, Travis and another friend, Doris Wilson, ran the support services that fed, sheltered, transported and provided first aid services for about 2,000 volunteers. Those volunteers built 16 houses in two weeks.

"Mary was always ready to help you with something, and she could round up anyone to help. Nobody could say no to her," Travis said. "The way she approached people was so friendly and offhand."

Bellon served on the Habitat board. Over the years, she recruited friends and family.

Don Bellon said his wife liked Habitat's methods. "People who would own the home did some work on part of the house, and she appreciated that. She got me involved," he said.

Mary Bellon grew up Mary Massucci in south St. Louis, graduating from Bishop DuBourg High School. She worked with her husband. The family owns Bellon Wrecking and Salvage and Bellon's Market.

Maxine Goldstein, a spokeswoman for Habitat, said she hopes that Mary's House will inspire others to create a lasting tribute for a loved one.

"Mary's spirit will live on in the hopes and dreams of her home's recipients and in the hearts of those friends and family building it in her memory," Goldstein said.

Reporter Margaret Gillerman
E-mail: mgillerman@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-725-6758