Obituary
CARD, Helen Edith (nee Perkin)
Helen Edith Card (nee Perkin) was born on the family fruit farm in Vineland Station, Ontario on March 3rd, 1939 to Jack and Pearl Perkin. She died on May 5th, 2020 following a long and courageous fight against metastatic kidney cancer originally diagnosed in August 2014, having previously battled breast cancer in 2000. Her final days were spent under the excellent care of the team of the Palliative Care Unit, St. Paul’s Hospital, Saskatoon.
She attended Rittenhouse Public School, Vineland Station (1945-52) and Beamsville High School, Beamsville, Ontario (1952-57). She then attended the Toronto Western Hospital School of Nursing where she received her RN in 1960. She then went to Queen’s University School of Nursing graduating with a BNSc in 1962. It was while at Queen’s University in Kingston that she met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) who was at medical school at the time. They married in Vineland United Church on June 2nd, 1962. Helen began her nursing career as a nursing instructor at Kingston General Hospital as well as working part time at the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby, Ontario. She subsequently followed Bob through his postgraduate studies in Boston and Hamilton as their new family began to arrive. In March of 1973, Helen and Bob moved to Saskatoon and have remained here ever since with the exception of sabbatical and leave time spent in San Francisco, Hamilton, Ottawa and Calgary.
Helen and Bob were married for almost 58 years with many adventures, trips, cruises, and a shared life of raising their three children and creating a loving home. Sharon (Scott, Niklos); Michael; Geoffrey (Christine, Nicholas, Joshua) shared many memories both in the original Saskatoon home on Kirk Crescent and subsequently in their condo on Heritage Lane.
Mom was a care giver in the true sense of the word. She started out with nursing as a focus but when she left nursing, she changed her focus to Bob, Sharon, Mike and Geoff adding in the spouses with time. After the birth of her three cherished grandkids Nicholas, Niklos and Joshua she ensured they were cared for as well. Even if she didn’t let them win at board games…. she did supply them with candy and cookies.
Helen was extremely creative – knitting, needlework, bobbin lace, crochet, etc. – she could do it all and did it well. Helen’s love of and skill in teaching crafts led her to become joint owner (with Judith Gidluck) of Needlework Nook in the Avalon Shopping Center for many years. She always had many projects on the go and was always delighted to share these with others. Many a baby in Saskatoon and elsewhere would receive one of her handmade blankets or sweaters. She was busy with many projects right up until the day she was recently admitted to St. Paul’s Hospital.
Helen was predeceased by her parents Jack and Pearl Perkin and by her sister, Ruth. She is survived by her husband Bob; sister Bernice Cushnie, Vineland Station; sister in law Mary Card, Toronto as well as by her daughter Sharon (Scott Irwin), Saskatoon; and her sons Michael, Edmonton and Geoffrey (Christine), Calgary. She has three grandsons, Nicholas and Joshua, Calgary and Niklos, Saskatoon. She will be remembered by her many cousins, nieces and nephews many in Ontario. She had many dear friends who will miss her as well.
Although she will be sorely missed, she leaves many memories and much wisdom – her smile, her laugh, her attention to detail, along with the best mashed potatoes, peanut butter squares – and for some reason always a knife in her hands! She never failed to get the last scrap of meat off the turkey.
In view of the current situation there will be a memorial service for immediate family only in May 2020. This will be followed by a celebration of Helen’s life to be announced at a later date, as circumstances allow.
In lieu of flowers consider a donation to one of the Saskatoon Hospital Foundations (Royal University Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital, or Saskatoon City Hospital) or a charity of your choice. Special thanks from Helen and family to the physicians and nurses at the Saskatoon Cancer Center, the Palliative Home Care team and their nurses who helped Helen in staying at home as long as possible as well as her family physician Dr. Adam Ogieglo. The Palliative Care Unit at SPH was wonderful for Helen and her family in providing compassionate end of life care.
Arrangements in care of Aimé Laventure – Mourning Glory Funeral Services (306) 978-5200.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Helen Card May 5 2020..
Mourning Glory Funeral Services
Death notice for the town of: Saskatoon, Province: Saskatchewan