Helen Dineen Smiley

Micky Smiley, our extraordinarily loving and strong mom, passed away on June 6th, 2024. She made it just in time to celebrate our dad’s birthday, who was no doubt infinitely delighted to see her after having crossed over himself three years prior.

She left behind us, her two daughters Marni (Tony) and Megan (Karl), her grandsons Reid and Griffin whom she adored, her dearest friend Natalie with whom she shared a devoted and precious friendship, all of her family and friends in the US, her grandkitties, and her granddog, who will forever miss the sound of her giggling as she generously shared her snacks. We grieve her passing with so much heartache, but are grateful she is reunited with her husband Hugh, her parents, and her siblings Bev, Maureen and Ed, as she missed them all so very much.

She was born Helen Dineen McCrystal on December 28th 1943 in Detroit, Michigan to Edward and Ruby McCrystal, the youngest of their 4 children. However as legend has it, it was said she was too much fun to go by a name as serious as Helen, thus she became Micky. And she really was that and so much more. Our dad said she could captivate a room like no other. Tougher than most, so very smart and sassy, and such a looker – a real beauty.

She was dealt more than her share of hardship and illness, but her steady, exceptional bravery, fortitude and capacity for love taught us all how to go through life with grace, humility and kindness.

She was a very private person, so we won’t share too much more other than that above all, she loved being a mom and she loved her husband, and also football, a good book, driving fast, green velvet, strawberries, a nice cold beer with some lemon over ice (just the one), and dancing, preferably to Motown.

We will miss her always and are forever grateful for having her as our mom, grandma, auntie and friend. A celebration of life will be held for her family and friends near her home in BC later this year, and another near her home town of Royal Oak, Michigan in the summer of 2025. We love you mom.