Helen passed away peacefully on November 17, 2020 in Burnaby at the age of 89. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Julius and their children: Bernard, Cece (Joe), Vince (Joan), and her daughter Honey Ellerby (Elmer); grandchildren: Mattea, Alex, Mark, Julia, Grace, Madeline, Aimee, Jesse, Celeste; 2 great-grandchildren, many nieces & nephews and her close family friend Louise Fry.
Helen was born in Fort Frances, Ontario and was the youngest of five children born to Perley and Florence (Martindale) Holmes. She moved to Vancouver in 1948, and entered St. Paul’s Nursing Program, graduating in the class of 1956. She met her husband Julius, who was one of her patients at St. Paul’s Hospital, and they married in 1959, settling in New Westminster. In addition to St. Paul’s, she worked at St. Mary’s and Burnaby General Hospitals before retiring in 1993.
Helen loved music, singing in the hospital and church choirs, dancing, gardening, and baking. Her grandchildren would run to the cookie tin as soon as they entered Nana’s house. She won first place prizes and many ribbons in the PNE baking competitions. She was a gentle soul who loved her family and friends dearly. We will always remember her for the kindness, compassion, and charity she shared with family, friends, patients and anyone in need.
Due to Covid restrictions, a private funeral mass at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in New Westminster will be held for the immediate family. A celebration of Helen’s life will be organized at a later date. The family is planning to create a memory book and welcomes any stories, pictures or short video messages from loved ones via email at memoryofhelen@gmail.com.
The family sincerely thanks the staff at Harmony Court for their caring and compassion over the past four years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Helen Georgina TOTH February 22 1931 – November 17 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Vancouver, Province: Colombie britanique