Helen Gourley Taylor

Helen was born and grew up in Falkirk, Scotland and studied in France and Austria, as she crisscrossed Europe, training to become a language teacher. When she completed her education, she crossed the ocean to begin her career in Parrsboro, NS. It was there that she met her soulmate John. They were married in 1958 and moved to Dartmouth where she became the entire language department at her high school.

With the arrival of children, her teaching career ended, although she never really stopped trying to educate us – with varying degrees of success.

She was known for her knitting skills and enthusiasm as she kept the family supplied with handmade sweaters, socks, afghans and a few stuffed toys, right up until the time she moved to Long Term Care. Helen was well versed in classical literature, was an avid reader and could be relied upon to recite various poems whenever the opportunity arose. She enjoyed walking with John and they could be seen strolling throughout Dartmouth daily. Her kind and gentle spirit will be missed.

Helen was predeceased by her husband John in 2021, her sister-in-law Carol MacDonald, brother-in-law Ian MacDonald and nephew Mark MacDonald of Halifax, and her sister-in-law Elizabeth Leishman in Scotland.

Helen is survived by her children, Allan (Patricia) of Coxheath, Carolyn of Dartmouth and Katherine (Babak) of Marietta GA, and her brother James Leishman of Dumfries, Scotland. She will be missed by her four grandchildren, Carolyn Wilkinson (Nick), Leah Taylor, John Behzadi and James Behzadi, and her great granddaughter Hanna Wilkinson, as well as many nieces and nephews in the MacDonald and Leishman families.

There will be no service or visitation in accordance with her wishes.

Special thanks to the staff at Harbourstone Enhanced Care for the care and comfort they extended to her over her final years, and to the staff at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital’s Emergency Department, Orthopedics Ward 3B, and Palliative Care for their care, attention and support.