Helene’s Obituary
Helene Ann O’ Leary passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on August 1, 2022, at the Grand Falls-Windsor Long Term Care Facility. She was surrounded by her loved ones.
Helene was born to Ellen and Cecil Power on August 1, 1934. She married Gerard O’Leary on September 21, 1956. They were blessed with nine children.
While taking on the monumental task of raising her children, she remained a devoted church member while finding time to contribute to her community. Some of the organizations she was involved in were the Girl Guides of Canada, the TOPS Club and the Catholic Women’s League of St. Joseph’s Parish. One of her great loves was politics. She worked tirelessly for the Liberal Party and worked on the campaigns of former MHA Graham Flight and former MP Bill Rompkey, who she later worked for at his political office in Grand Falls.
She loved Bingo, jigsaw puzzles, crosswords and various crafts in which she was extremely proficient, but what brought her more joy was competing with her children and grandchildren at Scrabble, Chess, Skip Bo and various other card games. She hated to lose and was a fierce competitor who rarely lost. Along with that was her love of tea, forbidden sweets, action films and late night talks!
Helene is survived by her nine children, Stephen (Bernadette), Margaret Reid (Maxwell), David (Peggy), Gerard (Joan), Regina Mercier (Pierre), John (Charlotte), Chris (Kimberly), James (Magdalena) and Helene Menchenton (Jason). She was dearly loved and will be missed by her 9 children, her 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; her dear brother, Leo Power (Anne); sisters, Rosemary Burke (Kevin), Nellie Power and Christine Mess; as well as her sister-in-law Theresa McCullough. She also leaves to mourn many extended family and friends
Helene was preceded in death by her husband Gerard; brothers, Phillip (Sheila), Cecil (Catherine), George (Annetta), Ted, Paul (Sarah), baby brother Vincent; sister, Patricia and beloved granddaughter, Rebecca Rose Mercier.
The family wish to acknowledge the compassionate and loving care given to her in the past few years from the staffs at Golden Years Estate, the Transitional unit at the Central Newfoundland Regional hospital and most especially the stellar staff at the Grand Falls-Windsor Long Term care facility who clearly understand that the end of life deserves as much beauty, care and respect as the beginning.
Visitations will be held from Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, 10 Bayley Street, on Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm.
Funeral services are to take place at St. Joseph’s Parish, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL on Friday, August 5, 2022 at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honour to the Diabetic Association, Kidney Foundation, or the Kids Eat Smart program at Forest Park Primary.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, 10 Bayley Street, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Helene Ann O’Leary 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Grand Falls-Windsor, Province: T-N