Helen Margaret Humby

OCTOBER 21, 1936 – JULY 15, 2013

It’s with great sadness that we announce the passing of Helen. She was a great wife, mother, grandmother and friend to all who came in contact with her.

Helen is survived by her husband Norman with whom she shared life’s journey for the past 54 years, four daughters, Susan, Karen (Gennaro), Leah (Murray) and Heather (Mike) and precious grandchildren Russel, Jack, Emerson and Ashton.

Helen led a wonderful life and formed lasting friendships along the way. After graduating from Kelvin High School, she went directly into the business world. Her first job was at Panel-Ply on Wall Street in Winnipeg. Her sidekicks Al Zlotnick and Cy Deane were still friends long after she left the company.

Helen met Norman in 1952 and a long courtship started. Married in 1959, she supported Norm until he graduated from university in 1961. One week later they found themselves in Toronto, Norm having been transferred by his firm. They had two great years in Toronto and were then transferred back to Winnipeg.

The family began to grow not long after and Susan, Karen, Leah and Heather became a full time job. Apart from being a full time mom, she found time in later years to go into partnership with her sidekicks Lorraine Janzen and Lydia Kuryk in a kitchen boutique (Madame Benoit) in Osborne Street Village.

Helen was involved in her P.E.O. chapter and Chartered Accountants Wives Club and donated her time to The United Way and Cancer Care fundraising. She loved animals (over her life she had seven dogs) and always supported the Winnipeg Humane Society and IFAW.

The family is appreciative of the loving care given by the doctors and nurses at Seven Oaks and St. Boniface Hospitals.

There will be no formal service. Helen’s ashes will be interred at her favorite spot at Lac du Bonnet where she spent her honeymoon and countless summers with her family and friends (the official Humby gathering place).

On Wednesday, July 31, 2013 there will be a celebration of Helen’s life, at her residence at 12 Hay Ave, St. Andrews starting at 2:00 pm. All friends and acquaintances are invited and welcome to come.

No flowers please. Helen would appreciate if you send a donation to any worthy animal cause.

“When you lose your Mother”

When you lose someone you love,

the hurt is hard to hide.

But when you lose your mother,

you just break up inside.

To those who have their mother,

love her while you may.

For I wish with all my heart and soul,

I still had mine today.