Helena Elizabeth O'Byrne

Helena was our beloved and brave wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. Helena asked for little, and gave much. Throughout the turmoils of life she stayed close to her God and her faith.

Helena reaped rewards of an Mennonite Brethren upbringing and youth. She was the eldest of six children. After some post secondary education, Helena worked at the UBC Law Library & then attended German speaking Bienenberg Bible College in Switzerland for two years. Helena Elizabeth Schmidt travelled extensively, with Europe and the Levant being the most meaningful to her. Upon returning to Canada, she worked at the Canadian Red Cross in Vancouver.

Subsequently, she met and married Peter Fairbanks O’Byrne. Peter and Helena settled in Rosedale, BC. Through their 42 year marriage, they raised their three children. Helena was a part of the community and made many life-long friendships through church, bible studies & her work. Helena O’Byrne is predeceased by her Father, Isaac Schmidt, and her younger sister, Sylvia Schmidt.

Helena is survived by her Mother, Agnes Schmidt (Goertzen), and siblings Diana Dyck, Lawrence Schmidt, Cheryl Jantzen, and David Schmidt. Helena is lovingly remembered by her husband, Peter Fairbanks O’Byrne, and sons: Stefan Arthur O’Byrne and Ian Matthew O’Byrne (wife, Janessa Ruth O’Byrne (Lepp) and their sons William Richard O’Byrne, Edwin Peter O’Byrne) and daughter, Shannon Elaine McDougall (O’Byrne) (husband, Matthew Marcel McDougall and their daughters: Kinley Helena McDougall and Carlyn Eva-Marie McDougall).