It is with loving and sad hearts we share the peaceful passing of Helen Bickel on December 5th, 2022 in the early hours of the morning. Helen was lovingly cared for by all her children in her home until her death.
Helen was born at home on June 24th, 1932 to Elsie Walters (Wilde) and Phillip Walters in rural Saskatchewan near Regina. Helen married Herman Bickel on June 15th 1956. They were married 56 years and were blessed with five children. Helen was also blessed with the opportunity to mother many foster babies and three foster children. Surrounded by this extended family, she became a happy grandmother of 19 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren who gave her much joy in her later years.
Helen is predeceased by her elder brother Harvey (2003), daughter Janice (2009), and her husband Herman (2012). She will be lovingly remembered by her brother Herb Walters, her children Richard, Barbara, Robert and Jeff Bickel, and Susan Hopwood, Lenny and Derek Hurst, as well as grandchildren: Joshua, Jordan and Caleb Atkinson; Jeffrey and Eric Bickel; Amy Leighton-Bickel; Leah and Vanessa Fisher; Justin, Nikolai, Brandon, Aaron, and Brett Hopwood; Natasha, Karina and Dakota Hurst, Jacob, Cody and Dustin Hurst and great-grandchildren: Payton, Maddy and JJ Atkinson; Rowan Koppitz; Emma and Taylor Blakeborough; Sadie and Dallas Hopwood; and Brandis Olmstead, along with many devoted nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind sons and daughters-in-law: Keith Atkinson, Robert Michael Fisher, Doug Hopwood, Kelly Hurst, Kara Zeigler, Tamami Haga, Joanna Hurst (Klassen) and Leone Leighton.
Helen lived her early years outside of Regina and moved to Lumsden, Saskatchewan when she was nine. She moved into the city of Regina in 1944, graduated from Balfour Technical High School and then found employment as a secretary and bookkeeper. She worked until she married her pastor at Mount Olive Lutheran Church. Over the next eleven years she birthed five children. When the youngest was four months old the family relocated to London, Ontario to serve at Our Savior Lutheran Church. She packed the children and a budgie (in a travel cage) into the car and traveled to their new home. In Ontario the family began to foster babies and toddlers, allowing Helen to continue mothering and caring for babies who gave her so much joy. Six and a half years later the family relocated to Victoria, British Columbia to serve at Redeemer Lutheran Church and packed the car up again with their five children. In Victoria the family continued to foster and before long three more children became a permanent part of their family. During this time Helen became very active in the BC Foster Parent Association, where she served as President and worked as a Foster Family Worker, supporting and advocating for other foster parents. These years were very challenging and rewarding for Helen. In 1979 she petitioned for improved conditions for foster parents and was the spokesperson, successfully standing her ground with the Minister of Human Resources, Grace McCarthy.
As her children were growing up, Helen took a position at Luther Court Assisted Living Facility and worked part-time as the Activity Coordinator for the residents as well as working with the Luther Court Community Association. She loved working with seniors and gave of herself and received much in return. In 1986 she and Herman relocated to a country parish in Athabasca, Alberta at Zion Lutheran Church returning to the land of snow. Helen enjoyed the return to farming communities of her youth. It was in Alberta that Helen took on new adventures, learning to swim (swimming 3 times a week for many years) and learning to play the guitar. In 1988 they moved to Camrose, Alberta where Herman taught at the Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute. Helen once again made many friends through the church and her community activities. She began to study watercolour and became a passionate flower and landscape painter, which she enjoyed for many years as a hobby. In 1997 Helen and Herman returned to Victoria to retire and became active members of Grace Lutheran Church. They lived in a beautifully gardened senior housing community where Helen served on the board and took pleasure from weekly game nights with women neighbours. During these retirement years Helen and Herman shared close friendships with other couples. Helen also enjoyed many gatherings and retreats with women friends and continued her creative practices. An avid walker, Helen especially enjoyed walking visits with her sister-in-law Mary along the Gorge walkway. In her later years she walked regularly with brother Herb at Hatley Park Memorial Gardens where they would visit Herman and she would clean his burial stone and place flowers. In 2019, Helen began attending Lutheran Church of the Cross with Richard and became a member, which brought her full circle to the home church of Luther Court where she had worked for many years.
Helen’s life was nourished by many cherished friendships. She was fed by her many creative outlets, which included homemaking activities such as: cooking, canning, baking, cake decorating, knitting and sewing. She enjoyed crafts of all kinds and was a prolific maker with her hands. She loved singing hymns in her strong alto voice, sang in church choirs, (once as a reluctant soloist) and directed children’s choirs and taught Sunday School. She loved her quiet alone spaces when she would journal and meditate, writing about and working through difficult issues. These were sanctuary moments to be with God, to look for direction and guidance, and to count her many daily blessings.
Family and her Christian faith were the centre of her life. Helen loved her family dearly and gave support in difficult times to her husband, children and grandchildren, as well as to her brothers, nieces, nephews and friends. She was admired as a strong and wise woman who listened without judgement. She never ceased sharing gratitude for the support and love she received from others throughout her richly lived life on this earth.
A favorite Christian writer of Helen’s was Joyce Rupp. We share a poem excerpt from Rupp’s book Fresh Bread and Other Gifts of Spiritual Nourishment.
prepare the nest of heart.
patch up the broken parts.
place more softness in the center.
sit and warm the home with prayer.
give the Christ a dwelling place.
Helen will be missed by her family and friends and we are grateful for the legacy of care she has left which will continue on after her.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the British Columbia Foster Parent Association.
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/3842?v1=true
Helen’s Celebration of Life service will be on Sunday, December 18, 2022 at 3pm at Lutheran Church of the Cross located at 3787 Cedar Hill Rd. Victoria BC. Pastor Lyle McKenzie
The Celebration will be live streamed and can be accessed at https://www.lutheranvictoria.ca/
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