when she died at St. Joseph Home after a brief time of illness.
Helen Clara Mary Kirchner was born on March 19, 1925 at her home near Pilger, SK to Laura (Ilg) and Clemens Kirchner. Helen was the third oldest in a family of eight girls and four boys. She describes her life as “a happy memory” and her school days at St. Matthew and Ignace Elementary Schools as “very happy days for me”. At nineteen she worked in the housekeeping department of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Humboldt where she met the Sisters of St. Elizabeth and “sensed the call of God to enter religious life”.
Upon entry into the Novitiate in 1947 she received the name Sr. Notburga which she later changed back to Sr. Helen. In 1948 she professed temporary religious vows and perpetual vows in 1951. Sr. Helen celebrated her 70th anniversary of profession in 2018 and would have celebrated her 75th anniversary of profession this year.
In the community Sr. Helen served in laundry and housekeeping at St. Peter’s College and in Humboldt at St. Elizabeth Convent and Hospital for almost 20 years. Her longest service was at Mount St. Francis Retreat in Cochrane, AB – in the kitchen, baking room, sewing drapes and vestments and as secretary and receptionist for over 30 years. During this time, she also sewed for several convents in the congregation, completed two years of High School and a year of Business College and from 1975-1976 she attended Newman Theological College in Edmonton, AB. In 2000 she returned to Saskatchewan and the Motherhouse where she spent her time helping out wherever she could.
We remember Sr. Helen as a happy, bubbly person throughout her entire life bouncing back from any difficulties and never holding a grudge for too long. Her giggles warmed our hearts, her humour brought laughter and joy. Hers was a simple and uncomplicated life of service and dedication to God and to her Sisters in Community. She loved nature being outdoors and watching birds and found a spiritual meaning in everything. Her hobbies were hand work and reading.
Sr. Helen is survived by her Sisters in community; her sisters Florence Siba-Lueke, Rose Baker, Doreen Nagy and Marie Palmer; her sister-in-law Della; her brother-in-law Joseph Nagy and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her parents Laura and Clemens Kirchner; her sisters Hilda and John Svab, Cathy Griffin and Clementine Siba; her brothers Louis, Leonard, Ludwig, and Clarence; her sister-in-law Doreen, her brothers-in-law Andrew Siba, John Svab, Mike Siba, Marcellus Lueke, Bromely Baker, Ralph Griffin, and Hugh Palmer.
The Sisters of St. Elizabeth thank the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Joseph Home for the loving care they gave to Sr. Helen for many years and who attended her dying and last days with great love, prayer and care. We are forever grateful to the Sisters of St. Joseph and the staff at St. Joseph Home.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Monday February 6, 2023 at St. Augustine Catholic Church (809 10th Street Humboldt, SK). Rite of Committal to follow at St. Elizabeth Convent Cemetery in Humboldt, SK.
Arrangements entrusted to David Polzen.
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