Helen Mark Knowles

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Helen Knowles who was indeed a born manager. She will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. She was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with her throughout her life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Helen was an individual who clearly communicated to those around her just who she was and what she was all about. Everyone acquainted with Helen knew her as a well-respected woman who was a stable force in her community.

      Helen was born on May 30, 1923 at Springwater in Saskatchewan. Her parents were Percy and Lola. Helen was raised in Medstead Saskatchewan. Even as a youngster, Helen learned to be objective and decisive. Her faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that she carried with her throughout her life.

      As a young girl, Helen was able to put her natural abilities to work. She was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, she liked to organize and direct. Helen was raised with four siblings. Older brothers Jeff and Don and Bob and sister Flo. Helen had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Helen, this was a natural order of life, one she gladly embraced.

      Helen's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during her childhood. As a young girl, Helen enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Helen was goalie for her hockey team. She was a Girl Guide as a child and continued as an adult once she had a family. Both her daughters were Guides and Helen was celebrated for her contribution to the Guiding movement. She was recognized for over 20 years in Guiding. Helen took two groups of Canadian Guides to International Round Ups. One was to Sweden and in a stop in Europe the girls all decided to dye their hair red. She took a contingent of Guides and everyone thought that all Canadian were red heads! In her spare time she liked to knit, she loved numbers and she was inquisitive about all sports that the "boys" liked. Helen's memorable achievements included leaving home at just 16 and traveling to Quebec to Stanstead Business College with a lunch bag and just five dollars in her pocket for a three day trip. She was sent there because her uncle was the Head Master. Instead of learning French she taught everyone there English.

      In school, Helen was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. She sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of her classes. She would eagerly complete her homework, and often put in extra study time when she felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Helen was always good at following directions and meeting her schedules, whether they were set by her teachers or were self-imposed. Helen’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time". She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was Math. This was in a one room school house and there was only one teacher.

      Helen’s practical work ethic carried over into her college years. Her logical mind permitted her to work hard without succumbing to the usual distractions of college life. She would tackle an assignment and work through it before moving onto the next project. Helen’s orderly nature gave way to establishing personal study habits and procedures that not only helped her stay on track but often put her ahead of schedule. When Helen saw the need or benefit, she would willingly take on the extra assignment or even attend extra classes in order to learn more and become a better student. She earned her Business Diploma from Stanstead College. Her favorite courses were accounting!

      Helen was sociable and approachable. Because she was always so straightforward in how she approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. She enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Helen was a member of a group, her interaction worked to keep the others grounded. She wasn’t afraid to confront her friends and, when necessary, she challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Helen came to expect her high standards of performance. Helen and Murray had a large circle of friends. They played tennis. They curled. And they danced and partied. They could make a mickey last for four hours with 20 people partying. They loved one another and they loved to laugh and dance.

      An objective and conscientious individual, Helen reveled in the security of her family. One of Helen’s most endearing qualities was her uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and her unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for her family and friends.

      Helen was ever watchful of her children. She worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. She maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Helen would give her stamp of approval to their requests, as long as she could see how they might benefit. She also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that her children were properly raised. Helen was blessed with two daughters, Robin and Dawn (passed away in 2006). They were also blessed with four grand-children, Chelsea, Alana, Colby and Brittany.

      Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Helen was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. She was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Helen was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. She worked cooperatively and expected the same from her colleagues. In both her personal and professional environments, Helen upheld her standards. Book keeping and accounting. Helen was the second woman President of the Certified General Accountants Association of BC. Helen was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

      Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Helen to do in life and that carried over to her enjoyment of sports. Helen and Murray played tennis and curled at the North Shore Winter Club. She also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Helen and Murray loved football and were founding members of the BC Lions in 1954. They were delighted when Robin brought home a football player to dinner one night who was to become their son in law. They loved him like their own son.

Robin and Dawn spent many hours on the steps of the North Shore Winter Club (along with many of their young friends) waiting for Mom and Dad. The girls started curling at 13 and would join together at the University of BC many years later and go on to become Provincial and Canadian Champions curling with Lorraine Bowles and Lindsay Sparkes - two tries and Champions both times. The families would follow them to Winnipeg and then Montreal and then Perth, Scotland where they finished as bronze medalists at the first ever World Women's Championship.

Robin would go on to establish a remarkable relationship with Scott Paper and Bob Stewart, Dave Stowe and Don Pettit who were huge champions of the Canadian Women's Curling Championship. Together, they made it into the premier women's sporting event in Canada. Helen was an integral part of this development and attended the event for 26 years. She was honoured after ten years with a beautiful gold and diamond pendant in the four hearts of the event logo. First Louise and then Cathy Stephenson became Robin's right hands and continued to help her to make this event a huge success. Andrew Klaver was and continues to be the incredible official photographer for the Scotties.

      Being generous with her time and energy, Helen liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. She was a vocal leader who enjoyed being a part of things. Her desire to uphold traditions and her ability to take charge of any type of project made her a tremendous asset.

      A civic-minded person, Helen was usually ready to jump in and help with community activities. She was the type of person who could masterfully organize events and projects and then see to it that they were run in an efficient and timely manner. Helen was a member of several community groups, She organized and was Captain of the North Vancouver Girl Guides, was camp commandant and camp commissioner for the Grouse Division as well as financial adviser and auditor.

      Faith was important to Helen. She held high moral standards and held deep spiritual beliefs that she was willing to share. Helen was a member of Highlands United Church. Her children and grand children continued to attend services there. During that time, she organized fund raising activities for the church.

      When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Helen used her scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that she made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Helen had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Her favorite vacation was Hawaii and she was delighted to spend 3 weeks there two years ago with Alan and Robin visiting old haunts.

      Helen didn't retire until she was 82 and great-neice Kim took over the business and continues to grow it into a very successful enterprise. Helen's legacy lives on in her great niece. She used her critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. In many ways, Helen loved retirement. It provided her with the opportunity to catch up with her friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

      Helen passed away on July 7, 2012 at 7:00 pm at Lions Gate Hospital Emergency. Helen was such an independent spirit and she struggled with her increasing physical and mental challenges. The family was blessed with an incredible care giver named Erma who loved Mom as they did and was with her until the very end. She is survived by her daughter Robin and her four grand children - Chelsea, Alana, Colby and Brittany. Services will be held at Highlands United Church on July 30, 2012 at 2:00 pm.. Helen will be laid to rest at First Memorial in the family garden plot next to her husband Murray and daughter Dawn.

      All who knew her would agree that Helen was a pillar of the community. She lived her life with her feet firmly on the ground. She had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in her thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. She was willing to share her ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Helen Knowles did her best to ensure that her family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life she touched was given the chance to become a better person.

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Helen passed away on July 7th after a very brief stay in hospital. As she had asked, she was still living at home with her incredible care giver, Erma, who looked after her every need until the very end. Our family is so indebted to Erma for her love and commitment.

Words of condolence have flooded in from across Canada. To quote a very special friend of Helen’s: “She was a woman of great warmth, good humour and consummate graciousness. She had such a natural charm, the kind that radiates. Helen had the unique gift of making whomever she was speaking with feel special, that their conversation was important to her, that she truly cared about them. In this world of ours where everyone is so very busy and self-absorbed so much of the time, Helen was a woman of uncommon courtesy. She was a woman who was so very easy to love. Even for those of us who weren’t her family.”

From another dear friend…”Whenever I think of Helen, I see her smile! The tears just happen and the laughter comes as memories begin.”

To remember Helen we encourage you to give to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation that is dedicated to raising funds for babies born pre-mature or seriously ill. The Foundation is a living legacy to Sandra Schmirler, three time World curling Champion and the first gold medal winner for curling.

Since its inception, the Foundation has donated over $2.2 million to Hospital Foundations across the country.

To donate in memory of Helen, please visit the "Special Links" page on the left hand column, or visit: http://www.sandraschmirler.org/english/donations/

p.s. From a well know Canadian Champion curler…”Helen was Mom for all of us curlers for one week every year at the Scotties….and we loved it!”

A memorial service will be held a 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 30th at Highlands United Church in Edgemont Village in North Vancouver.