Helen Julie Willis

February 18, 1930 – November 24, 2022

On November 24, 2022, Helen Julia Willis of Penticton, British Columbia died at the age of 92, listening to her much-loved country music in the company of her daughter Gayle McIntaggart, son Terry Willis, and their spouses Mike and Sheila.

Born in Beausejour, Manitoba to Gladys and Joseph Wedecki, Helen was the second of seven children, and the eldest girl. While Helen was still a child, the family moved to Richmond, BC in search of a better life. Upon finishing her education, she began her working life at the fish cannery in Steveston, and then in the Jolly Roger Restaurant in the Kerrisdale area of Vancouver. It was at this restaurant she met the love of her life and future husband, George. They married in 1951 in Vancouver, and expanded their horizons with Terry’s birth in 1956 and Gayle’s in 1961.

While raising her rambunctious children, Helen developed a reputation as an amazing seamstress and needlewoman, an adventurous cook, a fanatic for the chicken dance, and the best perogie and apple pie maker in the lower mainland. As her children grew, she began working at The Bay, where she stayed for more than two decades.

With George’s passing in 2006, Helen moved into a new stage of her life, where she took up bowling with a passion, continued swimming and walking, and travelled to California, Hawaii and Poland to be with her best friends and family. In 2019, at the young age of 89, Helen undertook another grand adventure by moving to Penticton to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law, where she lived independently, was a devoted gardener, and continued to bowl a mean 5-pin game. She was immensely proud of her son Terry, daughter Gayle and, her grandson Kyle (the apple of her eye).

Helen’s generous heart and an open spirit saw her acquire many close friends through the years. She is survived by her children Terry and Gayle, her grandson Kyle, her brother Anton (Tony), favourite nieces and nephews, and dear friends Penny, Karl and Travis. If you wish to honour her, please consider a donation to Variety - Children’s Charity of BC.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialfuneralkelowna.com for the Willis family.