Helen is survived by her loving husband Alfredo Pruta; beloved sister Dr. Ming Chou; nieces Dr. Ramona Hoh (Bryan Guillemette); Jennifer Hoh (Stuart Wall); nephew Dr. Steven Hoh; mother-in-law Anna Pruta; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law and family in Italy; as well as James Wall, grandson of Dr. Ming Chou. Helen is predeceased by her parents Dr. Viola May and Dr. Chun Lin Chou, her son Sean Reilly, and her brother-in-law Dr. Albert Hoh.
Helen was born in Balcarres, Saskatchewan in 1955. She spent very happy childhood years in North Battleford and Toronto before moving to Edmonton at age 12. She attended University of Alberta graduating with a B. Comm and a minor in Home Economics. This was an eclectic combination and reflective of Helen’s diverse interests in fashion, good food, and gardening, as well as a highly practical side, which led her to a part time job as a driving instructor.
After graduation, Helen worked in the insurance industry; first for Zurich Insurance in Commercial Lines and then in the legal department of Worker’s Compensation Board for more than 25 years. She made many life long friends from the work place who remember her sharp competence.
In 1989, Helen welcomed little Sean and Helen became a mother. This was a role in which she excelled and delighted. No mom sewed better Halloween costumes, baked better cookies, was more fun white water rafting in the Grand Canyon and Kicking Horse, or was more nurturing or more supportive than Helen. Sean said his Mom was his best friend.
Helen especially liked to travel and visited Hawaii almost annually with her family. She was adventurous and saw Stonehenge before it became popular with tourists. She ventured to Hong Kong, China, Japan, the Caribbean, Egypt and Europe. On one of her trips, she met her husband Alfredo, and they spent 25 wonderful years traveling together and splitting their time between Edmonton and Italy, where they built a beautiful house.
Helen is lovingly remembered by her family for her kind, big heart, her deep and abiding love for her family, her most gracious hosting capabilities and culinary skills and for her elegance and warm personality. Thank you Helen for giving us your love and always being the first one to be there for us. We are heartbroken to lose you, will miss you dearly and will cherish you forever.
Funeral services will be held on Friday June 24, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Hainstock’s Funeral Home and Crematorium, 9810-34 Avenue N.W. in Edmonton, AB T6E 6LI. Interment will follow the service at South Haven Cemetery. A luncheon will be served after the service.
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