Helen Irene Kirkman-Wreford

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our mother who was just shy of her 100th birthday. She was predeceased by her first husband, Albert, in 1992 and recently lost her second husband, Bertram, on September 4th of this year. She leaves behind her three daughters Helene (Ewan), Michelle (George), and Kathleen, her grandchildren Stefan (Eleanore), Allie, Amelia, Emma (Katrina), and Richard as well as her great-grandchildren Benjamin and Stella.

Helen trained as a nurse and she worked in both the hospital and community settings. In the community she specialized in palliative care and this gave her a great sense of fulfillment comforting the patients and their families in their time of need.

As her children grew up, she explored a variety of interests including pottery, painting and art history. She also enjoyed traveling the world. In her retirement years she became passionate about Tai Chi and was a accomplished Tai Chi instructor well into her 80s. It was in one of her classes that she met her husband Bert. In their old age, she and Bert became famous in the community for their almost daily treks from St. Elizabeth's Village to their favourite Tim Hortons on Rymal Road.

Helen loved all animals. All of her life she had cats and gave them attention and pampering throughout their lives. She always talked affectionately about them and they, in turn, faithfully sat on her lap and purred in ecstacy. She was a gentle soul and will be sadly missed by all she knew.