Helen Claudia Giles

Grateful for a long life well lived, her sons and daughter-in-law note the sudden and unexpected death of Helen Claudia (Winters) Giles, at home, in Halifax, on Friday, November 20th; a victim of old age and the declining health which comes with it. In another two weeks she would have been 93. She frequently said that she had had "a good run"; and she truly had.

Born in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, in 1922, Claudia was a daughter of the late Gilbert and Mantanna (Godfrey) Winters. She graduated Grade 12 from Liverpool Regional High at only16. After a series of minor jobs, she eventually landed a teller’s position at the local branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia. When war came, she did what young people all over the country were doing and “joined up” with the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (the “CWACS”).

After basic training in Halifax, Claudia had a series of positions with the army’s administration, in Halifax and later in Toronto. Rising to the rank of Sergeant, she was posted overseas to the Netherlands in 1945 as a member of the First Canadian Army (“the Liberators of Holland”), serving mostly in Apeldoorn. In later years, she took great delight in travelling back to the Netherlands to march, along with the Dutch and other Canadian war veterans, in the various commemorations of the Liberation.

After the war, Claudia returned to Canada and completed more education at what is now Ryerson University. She then occupied a number of senior administrative positions prior to her departure from the workforce to raise her boys. After they were grown, she returned to work outside of her home as the Director of the newly-established Cleft Palate Clinic at the IWK-Grace Hospital in Halifax; a position in which she thrived, and from which she retired at the age of 65.

In retirement, Claudia undertook a virtual whirlwind of activities: travel, walking, jogging and swimming at the Waeg and Centennial Pool until she was into her late 80s, volunteer administrative assistant work for the Parish Council at Saint Mary Basilica, the Heritage Trust and the Cancer Society’s Lodge That Gives, cooking, baking, reading, Coronation Street, the Symphony, Neptune, canvassing for numerous charitable causes and, of course, the Tattoo, which she never missed. Claudia also most enjoyed a good chat, no matter the topic (and she could hold her own on most), so long as it was over a glass of wine or three and ended with what she’d call “a good smoke”. She was also particularly good at putting everyone at ease and making them feel unique, or special, or both. And she had a great relationship with what she called her "grand dogs", all three of them, and they with her.

In addition to her parents, Claudia was predeceased, in 1988, by her husband of 36 years, the late Francis Carroll (“Bud”) Giles, by her brothers, Dale, Kaye ("Gil") and Donovan (Donny”) Winters, by her dearest cousin and best friend, Anna Keay and by her grand dogs, Angus and Jed. She is survived by her sons, Barry and Gavin (Q.C.) (Denise Stirling) of Halifax, by her loving and supportive sisters, Naureen Marcipont (Kingston) and Dana Winters (Liverpool), brother, Barry Winters (Leduc, Alberta), sister-in-law, Polly Winters (Nanaimo, BC), numerous nieces and nephews, by her wonderful and loyal friends and "swimming buddies", Robert Salah, Margaret Boyd, Gwen Maden, Dr. Winston Parkhill, The Honourable Elizabeth Jollimore, The Honourable William Digby, The Honourable Anne Derrick and Professor Vaughn Black, all of whom were unspeakably kind to her over many years, and by her grand dog, Jack. Claudia was also thankful for the excellent and compassionate care she received over the years from her family physician, Dr. A.J.

Given Claudia’s frequently articulated wishes, there will be no visitation or service. Her ashes will be interred at the “old Baptist cemetery”, in Liverpool, at a later date.

Anyone wishing to make a memorial donation is asked to consider the Canadian Red Cross.

“When we are born we cry though those around us rejoice,

but when we die, those around us cry though we rejoice.”

The Sanskrit