Helen Adeline Buckle

While it is possible to receive good counsel from a wide circle of family and friends, few could offer it with the skill and aptitude of Helen Adeline Buckle. Her sensitivity, kindness and generous attitude made her a wonderful mother and a true friend to all who knew her.

     Helen was born to parents Myles and Sarah Leard, on June 11, 1914, in Saskatoon, Sask., and was raised with two siblings, older brother Archie Myles and older sister Annie Ellen.

      As a young girl, Helen interacted well with other children, was helpful and an independent person. She was very much a homebody and the love of family and devotion to friends lasted her lifetime. She loved playing the piano and a memorable achievement for her was completing her first year ATCM (Toronto Conservatory of Music) but unfortunately Helen was unable to finish the second year due to illness. That didn't stop her, however, from becoming a piano teacher during her late teens and early twenties.

       On May 20, 1933 Helen exchanged wedding vows with Cecil Howard Buckle (1912 - 1981) at her family home in Saskatoon. Cec and Helen were blessed with three children, two daughters Norma and Donna and son Roy. She was also blessed with nine grandchildren, Valerie, Brenda, Ellen, Sarah, John, Carlos Jr., Alex, Chris and David as well as eleven great grandchildren, In chronological order - Shawn, Brendan, Steven, Corrine, Michael, Aidan, Melanie, Grayson, Samuel, Devin and Nadine. All who knew her would agree that there was a certain kind of magic in how Helen was able to bond with her family members.

       Helen's favorite pursuits were writing letters, which were always laced with humour and which her friends cherished receiving, putting together photo albums - there are dozens of them, piano, sewing, baking and cleaning her house until it sparkled. She was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others. One of the greatest and most treasured gifts she left for her family are her Memoirs written between 1997 and 1998. She was always going to update them but had so many interesting things to fill her time she never did. Helen also wrote a booklet on her travelling adventures with Cec and the interesting experiences and new people they met along the way. She was a great storyteller and would enthral her family and friends with stories from her past and not surprisingly noone seemed to mind if they had heard it before.

           Though she could be a private person at times, Helen was always able and willing to give of herself and truly enjoyed a good laugh, often at her own expense. Helen shared herself freely and family and friends will remember Helen for the strength of her convictions, her integrity and her caring heart.