Hellen Margaret Denning Gold

It is with sad hearts that we say a loving goodbye to our family matriarch Hellen M. Gold at the age of 93. As per her wish, she passed away peacefully in her home with her family at her side on Friday, March 21, 2014.

Hellen was born in Okotoks, AB., on October 25, 1920. She was raised on the Bar VX ranch of her parents, Harry Elias and Mary Denning (nee Hitchell) that was located southwest of Turner Valley. Hellen attended the one-room country school of Lineham and the Turner Valley High School (now the Club House for the Turner Valley Golf Club). She went to Garbutt’s Business College. From 1943 to 1947 Hellen worked for Valley Pipeline, a subsidiary of Imperial Oil in Turner Valley. After the war was over she was transferred to the Calgary Office. It was while working in the Calgary office that Hellen met her future husband, John James Gold. They were married August 2, 1947 and resided in Turner Valley. They had four children, Terry Ann, Donald, Glenys and Susan. Hellen returned to the work force first as a production accountant in conventional oil then later as a Supervisor over the Technicians in the Heavy Oil Dept. of Dome Petroleum Limited--retiring from Dome in 1983 after 23 years. Hellen was a 50 year member of ASET.

After the sudden death of her husband, Johnny, in 1965, she moved to Calgary the next year so as to be closer to work and to be able to spend more time with her children. She was a remarkable woman. She was kind, generous and hard-working and very independent. She never complained and took things in her stride. She helped raise her husband’s niece and nephew, Ron and Marcia, after their mother’s death. She learned to down-hill ski in her 50’s then later took up cross-country skiing. She developed her basement with her daughter in her seventies. She also loved to read, garden, knit, do crossword puzzles and travel. All of which she did right up into her nineties. She never lost her love of the foothills and mountains nor her interest in what was happening on the farm or in the world around her. She was truly a lady of grace.

Her memory will forever be cherished by her surviving children: Terry Ann (Gerald) Schmitke, Donald (Brenda) Gold, Glenys (Harvey) Schmaltz and Susan Gold and also her nephew Ron (Brigitte) Robertson and niece Marcia (Bob) Bain; her seven grandchildren: Robert (Heather) Schmitke, Tarmara Schmitke, and Christine (Tyler) Ellis (nee Schmitke); Emma Gold and Marcia (Kyle) Bradshaw (nee Gold); Amanda (Mykle) Lambert (nee Schmaltz) and Pamela Schmaltz as well as by six great-grandchildren: Michaela & Karle Schmitke; Abigail Bradshaw; Dakota Lambert; Chance Remillard and Emily Olford. Hellen is also survived by her younger sister June (Owen) Danforth and sister-in-law Florence Denning plus many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Johnny; her parents Harry and Mary Denning; her eldest sister Jane (aka Jean) Harris and her two younger brothers Harry and Charlie Denning and son-in-law Gord Schermerhorn. Our family would like to express its gratitude to Dr. Helen S.L. Tse her GP, Dr. Andrew Grant and Donna Rivando of the South Campus Cardiac Function Clinic and the Palliative Team.

A Memorial Service will be held at FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca.

FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL

FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATIORIUM

Telephone: 403-297-0888

Honoured Provider of Dignity Memorial