Helen Eileen Holmes

Helen Eileen Holmes passed away peacefully on July 4th 2019 at her home on Vancouver Island in Courtenay, BC. She was born in Calgary, AB, in 1944. Helen was predeceased by her parents, Donald and Margaret McKeague. She is survived by two loving daughters, Lindsey Holmes (Andrew Kyrgoussios), and Paula Holmes-Rodman (William Rodman). Helen also leaves behind her two younger siblings, Donna Cortino, and Doug McKeague (Judy McKeague), many nephews and nieces, cousins, friends and colleagues. Helen grew up in Calgary and her greatest pleasure were weekends on horseback in Bragg Creek. She attended the University of Montana in Missoula and achieved a B.A. in Drama and English. She then earned an M.A. in English at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. Helen spent most of her career at the University of Calgary as both a teacher and a senior administrator. In 2006, she was awarded The Order of the University of Calgary for extraordinary contributions to the university. Her dream for her retirement was to move to Vancouver Island, wear sensible shoes, walk her dogs, and plant flowers in her garden. Helen did crossword puzzles in pen, and measured her wealth in books, friends, and family. In Helen’s memory, take the long way home, on a back country road, and listen to Janis Joplin sing “Me and Bobby McGee”. Helen knows all the words, and somewhere she’ll be singing along. At Helen’s request, there will be no service. Memorial donations may be made to the Anderton Therapeutic Gardens Society (PO 1416 Comox, BC V9M 7Z9) or to the BC SPCA (spca.bc.ca).