Mary Helen Esther O’Brien (Wilson) passed away on Saturday, November 2, 2019 at the Kirkland Lake District Hospital after a long struggle of recovering from intestinal surgery. Helen’s parents Norman and Eleanor Wilson had six children: Bernadette Thiebeault (Ernie), Marion Wilson (Percy), Cecil Wilson (Doreen), Eleanor Jones (Jack), Mary Helen Esther (aka Helen or OB or Grandma Chocolate) and is survived by her brother Wilford Wilson (Diane). In 1956, Helen married Terrance Terry George O’Brien (deceased 1975) and had five wonderful children: Peter (deceased 2012); Stanley (deceased 2009); and is survived by Patrick O’Brien, Casey O’Connor (Tim; ) and Tracey Labbe (Pierre).
Helen’s four grandchildren, Natalee O’Connor, Amy O’Connor, Terry-Lynn Labbe and Cassandra O’Brien-Moreau were the light of her life and loved to spoil them any chance she could.
Helen was known to love chocolate, roses (“but only red”), seafood, Pepsi, country music (“but not that new stuff they play now”), going to Casino Rama with Tracey and sampling cookies and perogies whenever Tracey and Casey made them. As she would say “Well….one out of each batch has to be tried to make sure they are done right”.
Many may remember getting a wake-up call from Smitty’s taxi when she worked the midnight shift (“good morning, this is Smitty’s taxi with your wake up call”) or you may have said hello to her at the Don Lou as you paid your bill for lunch.
She was unapologetically herself, which served as a great source of entertainment for anyone she crossed paths with. It was also what made her so loveable. She was a real spitfire and we would not have it any other way. She loved those in her life deeply and was loved in equal measure. She will be dearly missed.
Thank you to all of the family members who have always been so supportive and to the doctors and nurses on the 4th floor of the Kirkland Lake District Hospital who cared for her and laughed with her in the last six months.
In keeping with Helen’s wishes, she will be cremated and placed together with Terry. There will be a celebration of life for Helen in the spring of 2020.
DONATIONS:
Kirkland & District Hospital Foundation
145 Government Road East
Kirkland Lake, ON P2N 3P4
OR
Canadian Cancer Society
176 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 11
North Bay, ON P1A 2A8
Please mail all cheques directly to the charity.
2019
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Mary Helen O’Brien 2019..
Décès pour la Ville:Kirkland Lake, Province: Ontario