Helen Stark

Helen was born Jan 3, 1941 to Jim and Ethel Robson in Victoria, BC. After the war, her parents built a house on Cedar Hill Rd, way out in the country. She grew up there and in 2002, when she retired from teaching in the Nanaimo area, she moved back into the house where she enjoyed the rest of her life.

After graduating from Mt Doug High, she attended Victoria College in 1959 for a 2 year teaching certificate. In the late 1980’s, with all three of her children at UVic, she decided to attend there too and in the early 1990’s completed an Education degree. Helen taught school for many years in Nanaimo and Lantzville and loved every child and every minute.

At the tender age of 19, she married Stan and together they raised their children, enjoyed family times, and welcomed the many people Helen attracted to their world. The family home in Nanaimo was a constant hub of activity and people. Mum and Dad enjoyed the quieter times with family as well, and cherished their times sitting at the beach, especially in Bowser and Maui. Helen lost Stan to ALS in Feb 2019 after 58 and half years together.

Helen was deeply interested in people and cast her net wide. She never gave up on her friendships and was always open to new ones.

Many people consider Helen to be their best friend, or their Grammie.

She was loyal, interested, and loving. In the spring of 2022 Helen met her second husband, Cliff Pearson, through their walking group when she asked him to relay his story. The connection was immediate and strong and they enjoyed 12 months exploring Victoria, going to events, and having adventures while getting to know each other and falling in love. They married on May 20, 2023 on a perfect day surrounded by family.

Helen laughed easily and cried easily and had a song at the ready for every moment, big or small. She was strongly rooted in the community, keeping up friendships with her Mt Doug High School group, chatting with everyone she met as she walked the neighbourhood with Portia the dog, and contributing to the many social groups at the churches she attended over the years. She maintained a generationally wide diversity of friendships and was a loyal friend to all.

Helen was predeceased by her parents and her first husband, Stan.

She will be greatly missed by her new husband, Cliff Pearson, her children, Jackie (Craig) Hiebert, David (Jody) Stark, and Caroline (Andrew) Clark, her grandchildren, Ben, Graeme (Anna), Nathan, and Gillian Clark, Ethan, Rachel, and Jamie Stark, her great-grandchildren Hudson, Opal, and Sullivan Clark. These are the people Helen loved fiercely and with all her being.

Our family would like to thank the doctors, nursing staff and surgeons at the ICU of the Royal Jubilee Hospital who treated her, and her family, with great care and dignity during her extremely short stay.

The service will be at St Mary the Virgin in Oak Bay, 1701 Elgin Rd, June 17 at 2pm, with the Rev. Craig Hiebert presiding. Because parking is limited, if you are able, please use street parking.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the ALS society.