Helen "Merle" (Porteous) Todd

With deep sadness we announce the peaceful passing of our dear Mom, in her 96th year, on the evening of Jan. 9, 2025. She is predeceased by her husband Pat (Paterson Arnold) and survived by her children, Murray (Cheryl) of West Vancouver, BC and Janis Burroughs (Jim) of Manhattan Beach, CA. Also surviving Mom are her 4 grandchildren, Ryan (Leanne), Lindsay Sutton (Jeff), Travis Burroughs (Karla), and Dillon Burroughs (Katie) as well as 8 great-grandchildren, Avery, Emme, Charlotte, Abigail, Oliver, Kennedy, Riley and Perry. The grandchildren all have special memories of spending time with their “Noni”, and in particular spending time with her on Bowen Island, Mom’s “happy place”.

Mom was born in Cupar, SK in 1929 to Lloyd & Doris Porteous (nee Anderson). After high school she moved to Vancouver to attend UBC, graduating in Home Economics in 1951. She met Pat at UBC and they married in 1952, and were long-time North Shore residents where they raised their family.

Mom was one of the founding members of the North Shore Women’s Centre and this founding group (more recently calling themselves “F-Group”) have been lifelong friends. Meeting in a Women’s Studies class at Capilano University in the early ‘70’s, they quickly bonded and decided to make a difference in our community. They formed the North Shore Women’s Centre in 1973 and after devoting many years getting and keeping the NS Women’s Centre going, they were eventually able to turn it over to the wonderful staff who operate it to this day. Throughout this time, they worked together and in later years have remained together as “besties” with emails, monthly lunches and birthday celebrations, and for many years the annual summer picnic at Mom’s Bowen Island retreat. Mom continued to attend the lunches until the month before her passing. (special thanks to Robyn for transportation!).

Also special, special thanks to Mom’s team of devoted caregivers, in particular Julie, who’s devotion and loving care for Mom was so appreciated by Mom and the family.

There will be a celebration of Mom’s life on Friday Feb. 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Hollyburn Funeral Home in West Vancouver.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests a donation in Mom’s name to the North Shore Women’s Centre or the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation.