Cook, Helen Roberta (nee Kingsbury)
January 25, 1928 – April 10, 2021
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Helen Cook on April 10, 2021 at the Queensway Carleton Hospital in Ottawa. She was the daughter of Clifford and Mary Kingsbury(deceased) and sister of Frazer (deceased) Kenneth(deceased) and Donald. Helen was the beloved wife and best friend of Harold Cook and the loving mother of Cliff (Theresa), Kathy (David), Rob, and Gord (Sue) and a much loved grandmother to Kate, Brenna, Ben, Christopher, Kailey, Sarah, Matthew, and great-granddaughter Imogen.
Helen was a wife and partner, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, kindergarten teacher, committed community volunteer, and keen craftsperson. She was born in Ottawa and lived in the city until she was a teenager, when her family moved to a farm in Hull (Gatineau). Upon graduation from high school she attended the Ottawa Normal School and taught kindergarten at Lady Evelyn Public School for five years.
As a young married couple, Helen and Harold lived in Hull. Helen resigned from teaching with the arrival of their first child and did not anticipate returning to that profession, but she did. She described being persuaded by a school principal to do “a bit of supply teaching” and as she put it, ”The bug bit again.” The supply work turned into full time teaching. She taught kindergarten at the Hull Elementary School for fifteen years until retiring in 1987. In the early 1970s she completed an undergraduate teaching degree from McGill University which included a specialist’s certificate in Reading. An expert time manager, she completed the distance and onsite courses while teaching full time and co-parenting four teenage children.
In 1983 Helen and Harold moved back to Ottawa and upon their retirement directed their energy to volunteering in the community and their church. Meals on Wheels, Nepean Seniors Home Support, The Nepean Museum, and many church group activities kept them busy and fulfilled. In 1997 both Helen and Harold were presented with The Nepean Citizen of the Year Award for their interest in and dedication to causes that benefitted the citizens of Nepean. In 2003 they were acknowledged by the Ontario government for 10 years of volunteer service after being nominated by Nepean Seniors Home Support.
Of all her retirement activities, the fifteen years Helen spent coordinating and participating in two craft groups one at her church and another with Nepean Seniors, were a favourite. The supplies in her craft room at home could easily rival any craft store.
Helen and Harold’s membership at Knox United Church was very important to them both. She was a member of a number of church groups over the years including the Archives committee, Pastoral Care, as well as the church choir. If the church needed people to help with an activity, Helen and Harold were always there.
Although Helen had many interests throughout her life, the one that was closest to her heart was her family. Her greatest joy came from being a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. As her children married, weekly Sunday family dinners became the norm. With the arrival of each of her much cherished grandchildren the get togethers became busy and noisy and she loved every minute of it.
Helen/Mom/Grandma, you will be greatly missed.
Interment will be private and a memorial service will be planned for a future date.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Helen to the charity of your choice.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Helen Roberta Cook Kingsbury Saturday April 10th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Ottawa, Province: Ontario