Helen Mary Stewart

June 16, 1930 - March 29, 2022

A Celebration of Helen’s Life will be held on June

16, 2022 at The Beach House Restaurant, in

Dundarave, West Vancouver, between 1:00 and

4:00 pm. Please RSVP Hollyburn Funeral Home at

604-922-1221.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The

Lion’s Gate Hospital Foundation in Helen’s

memory. Please share a memory or photo of

Helen at www.hollyburnfunerals.com.

No regrets - A life well lived...

Our dear Helen passed away peacefully with family by her side, just short of her 92nd birthday. Born in Paisley, Scotland – the youngest daughter of Robert and Mary Cunningham. Educated at John Neilson School, West of Scotland Commercial College, Glasgow. She was predeceased by her parents, siblings Cecilia, Jean and her husband Donald Stewart. Helen is lovingly survived by her son Andrew Nordwall (Crystal) and grandchildren Sarene (Alex), Milena and Nolan also stepdaughter; Solveig Nordwall, stepsons; Gordon, Callum (Kerrie) and Alan Stewart. Step-grandchildren; Stephanie, Christie, Lisa, Glen, Katherine, Kaitlyn, Eric, Craig, Ian, Callum and Cameron.

Helen immigrated to Canada in 1951, worked for 10 years as a personal secretary to Jim Spilsbury, President of the Pioneer Airline, Queen Charlotte Airlines and subsequently for his Radiotelephone Manufacturing Company, Spilsbury & Tindall Ltd.

Helen met her first husband, Johan Nordwall in 1959 and had one son, Andrew. In 1965, they opened Swedish Jeweler Ltd. in Park Royal and subsequently, branches in Royal Center and Pacific Center. Her marriage didn’t last and she married Donald Stewart. Helen ran her highly successful businesses, raised 4 active boys and managed the household. They expanded the jewelry business to Bellevue, WA under the name of Fabri Fine Jewelry in 1983. They sold Fabri in 1989 and Swedish Jewelers in 1996.

Helen lived a very active life. She was a very independent spirit until the end. Her life interests were necessarily heavily centered on business, with particular focus on jewelry design and décor. Recreationally, her interests were skiing, hiking, Scottish Country Dancing, reading, live theater, bridge, cooking and entertaining. She was an amazing cook and always said “A good Scottish wife when upon seeing visitors at the front gate has scones in the oven by the time they reach the front door!”

Helen loved to entertain and dance and had many wonderful and memorable dinner parties in her beautiful homes which she decorated impeccably. She said it showed her ‘feminine side’. She travelled extensively to many corners of the world while in business and during her retirement years.

At the age of 90, Helen wrote a book about her grandmother, “Jane Love Cunningham”, a truly remarkable matriarch and to all her strong business minded aunts and female relatives who were such role models. They inspired her and their influence shaped Helen’s life. They gave her the courage, a vision and an unstinting work ethic to achieve her personal goals in what was traditionally, a man’s world.

Helen lived her final year in Edgemont, North Vancouver where she could be seen belting around the village with her walker and backpack, rain or shine. She enjoyed her peace and quiet, reading, crosswords, Jeopardy and the Wheel of Fortune.

Helen touched many lives, many who have remained lifelong friends. She will always live in our memories and we will all miss her dearly.

Thank you to Dr. Peter Hayton for always being there for her as a friend and Physician and to all the nurses and staff at Lion’s Gate Hospital for keeping her safe and comfortable.

A private family graveside service is planned at Capilano View Cemetery and a Celebration of Helen’s Life will be held on June 16th at The Beach House Restaurant, in Dundarave, West Vancouver, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm. Please RSVP Hollyburn Funeral Home at 604-922-1221.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Lion’s Gate Hospital Foundation in Helen’s memory. Please share a memory or photo of Helen at www.hollyburnfunerals.com.

No regrets – A life well lived…