Helen was born in Joyceville to Emily and Joseph Keyes. She grew up in Gananoque with her brothers Kenneth, Richard, the Rev. Edward, Vincent, John, and her sisters Mary Frances and Margaret. She loved them dearly.
Helen graduated from nursing at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston. She married our father, the late Phil McAllister (d.1990). They started their life together in Kingston and later moved to Toronto. They were proud parents of 6 daughters: Anne Boyd (Ken), Pat McMenemy, Mary Cousins (Russ), Helen Ruth (d. 1952), Maureen Philbrook (Paul) and Margaret McAllister.
Mom was blessed with 13 grandchildren; David (Martine), Kevin and Stephen (Tricia) Boyd, Katie (Bryan Benjamin), Elizabeth (Jennifer Sands) and Patrick (Amanda) McMenemy, Sarah (Nick Docker) and Peter (Michelle) Cousins, Andrew and Stephen (Suzana) Philbrook and Alexandra (Christopher Burke), Annie and Thomas Kavanagh.
She had 15 great-grandchildren; Michael and Lauren Boyd, Kaitlyn and Jeffrey Boyd, William and Daniel Benjamin, and Georgia Sands, Gavin and Charlotte Docker, Ronan, Colin and Gordon Cousins, Elyse Philbrook and Walter and Cecilia Philbrook.
She loved every moment she spent with her grand and great grandchildren and took an avid interest in their lives. They loved their “Grandmother” who was a very special and revered person to all of them. They miss her.
Mom lived an active life. She volunteered at St. Michael’s Hospital for over 15 years and for the Canadian Cancer Society for many more. She and Dad travelled extensively through Canada and Europe. She loved her garden. A highlight each year was the Hallowe’en costume party with their education friends. For years she played bridge every Wednesday afternoon. She also loved playing euchre with her grandchildren. She started every day with morning Mass, followed by coffee with her friends from
St. Margaret’s. When she became restless, we knew that soon she would be off to her beloved Gananoque to spend time with her parents, siblings and friends. Mom loved family reunions where she could catch up with her many nieces and nephews.
Mom lived at the Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence for the last four years. The family would like to thank all the doctors and staff who took such wonderful care of our mother.
Our Mother left a legacy of love, kindness and deeply rooted Catholic faith. She will be sorely missed. A celebration of her life will take place at a later, safer time.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18