It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Helen Gail (Pearce) Timoffee. Helen left this world suddenly, with her family by her side on September 7, 2022, at 72 years of age.
It seems impossible to summarize a person’s life when it was so astoundingly impactful. Helen was the most genuine and loving wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend anyone could ask for. She was generous, kind, compassionate and lived life helping others in every way possible. She was a strong advocate for women’s rights and equality and mentored many women over her lifetime. Helen had many passions including flowers, horses, meeting with friends, and riding her bike. She lived an active lifestyle and craved adventure travelling to 82 different countries around the world. There was a youthful twinkle in Helen’s eyes that always showed her spirit of adventure and fun. Everyone wanted to be around her, and she will be dearly missed.
Helen was born on November 19, 1949, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and raised on the family farm near Plunkett, Saskatchewan. She was predeceased by her mother Audrey (Adair) Pearce, her father Jack Pearce, and her brother Robert Pearce. She is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Jerry Timoffee, her two children Ryan Timoffee (daughter-in-law Abigail), and Karen (Timoffee) Belanger (son-in-law Chris), her sisters Arlene (Pearce) Stephenson and Peggy (Pearce) Beswick, in addition to many relatives and friends who live with her legacy.
Helen attended the University of Saskatchewan earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971. She married Jerry in 1971 in Saskatoon and moved to Calgary shortly thereafter where they raised two children Ryan and Karen. Helen attended the University of Calgary earning a Bachelor of Social Work in 1977 and a Master of Social Work in 1988. Helen’s career path was mainly through the Social Service Department with the Government of Alberta. She worked as a Contract Manager for facilities caring for disturbed children and adolescents, she became a Supervisor of Day Care Licensing and then she became an Executive Manager Covering Child Care, Resources for Children with Disabilities and Child Welfare. Helen earned her designation as a mediator and negotiator through the Alberta Mediation and Arbitration Society and spent many years as a real estate entrepreneur in both Calgary and Edmonton.
Helen had a lifelong dream to help orphans in Africa and started that fulfillment journey with her first trip to Malawi, Africa in 2006 with her daughter Karen. She was astonished by the lack of clean water in remote villages that caused people to become sick and die. With great vision and determination, Helen founded the Malawi Water Project in 2011. The Malawi Water Project continues to hold the promise of providing clean, safe drinking water and promoting good sanitation and hygiene practices while offering employment opportunities for locals. The Project has inspired thousands of people in Malawi and around the world. Helen has made a lasting impression on so many people and her legacy will continue to inspire us to help others. Heaven has gained a true angel.
A Celebration of Life will be held on October 15, 2022, at Fish Creek United Church at 11am MST
The event will be available on Youtube for those that cannot attend in person.
Fish Creek United Church – 77 Deerpointe Rd SE, Calgary, AB
We ask that donations be made to the Malawi Water Project in lieu of flowers. www. malawiwaterproject.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Helen G TIMOFFEE Pearce 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Victoria, Province: Colombie britanique
I am sorry to hear of Helen’s passing. My prayers and thoughts are with your family.