It is with great sadness that the family of Helene Mabel (Shaw) Gorman announces her passing at The Meadows, Yarmouth NS, on Monday December 16, 2019. Helene passed peacefully with her younger daughter Cora by her side. Helene was born on July 3, 1934 to Ivan B Shaw and Freida I (Smith) Shaw in Yarmouth NS, the oldest of four children. She is survived by her husband of 65 years Rev Karl E Gorman of Yarmouth NS, and her children Sherry (Ron), Stephen (Carolyn) Philip (Donald) and Cora, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren; sister Loma (Walter) brother Ivan (Penny) and youngest brother Paul (Terrie). Helene is also survived by her two sisters-in-law, Pauline (Gorman) Foster and Paula (Gorman) Crouse. She was pre-deceased by her parents as well as one granddaughter, Baby Marianne, and one great grandson, Baby Justin.
Prior to her marriage Helene worked as a telephone operator in Yarmouth NS. Helene had a beautiful soprano voice but passed on the opportunity to study further and instead lived most of her married life as a Pastor and Missionary wife with the Wesleyan Church serving over the years in Yarmouth NS, Brazil Lake NS and for many years in Missionary work with the Wesleyan Church in South Africa. She assisted her husband’s Ministry with her musical talents of voice as well as playing the piano and organ. She also gave piano lessons at the Wesleyan Bible College in Brakpan, South Africa, for a period of time. Helene, along with her husband Karl, retired to her hometown of Yarmouth NS. Music always was, and continued to be, very important to her and she sang in the Yarmouth Chorale for several years.
Helene always loved roses and enjoyed watching hers grow and bloom in her backyard on Collins St in Yarmouth. She especially loved her grandchildren despite the geographical distance with three in South Africa and two in Ontario and always wished that she could have spent more time with them. Helene also loved the Christmas Season and great effort went into the decorating of her tree each year.
Helene spent the last years of her life, almost eight, as a resident of The Meadows on Pleasant St in Yarmouth NS. Her family would like to take this opportunity to express their thanks and gratitude for the support and care Helene received from all the Staff at The Meadows who interacted with her. Helene’s three elder children, Sherry, Stephen and Philip, would also like to acknowledge and express their thanks to Helene’s youngest daughter Cora, a resident of Yarmouth NS; for all that she has done for their mother in recent years. It is greatly appreciated. Helene’s family takes comfort in the knowledge that she is now with her Lord.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sweeny’s Funeral Home and Crematorium, Yarmouth NS. A celebration of Helene’s life will be held December 28th, 2019 at 2:00 pm at the Yarmouth Wesleyan Church with Rev. A.J. Plaizier officiating. Interment will take place at a later date in Darlings Lake Cemetery. A reception will follow the celebration of life. In lieu of flowers donations in memory may be made to The Meadows, towards the purchase of a Nordic Wellness Chair, or the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada. Online condolences may be made to sweenysfh@eastlink.ca or you may sign the guestbook online at www.sweenysfuneralhome.net
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Monday December 16th 2019
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Helene Mabel Gorman Monday December 16th 2019..
Décès pour la Ville: YARMOUTH, Province: Nova Scotia