HELEN DOUGLAS

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HELEN DOUGLAS May 25, 1922 - February 16, 2017 Peacefully on February 16, 2017, Helen Douglas, beloved mother of Frank, passed away at Seven Oaks Hospital after a short illness, at the age of 94. Helen is survived by her only son Frank, nephews Craig Wallis (Trudy), Reid Douglas (Nadia), Bruce Douglas (Jackie), and numerous grandnieces and nephews. Helen was born in Winnipeg, the second daughter of her parents, who immigrated from Poland. She lived her entire life in the North End, attending William Whyte, Strathcona and Isaac Newton Schools. She excelled in academics and participated in several sports such as track and field, and volleyball. After high school, she continued to enjoy golf and skiing, entering tournaments and going on excursions through work. She began her working career in retail at Eaton's, and also worked for Winnipeg Photo, handcolouring black and white photos. She later began a successful career at Sears, managing the Hosiery Department, one year earning the Manager of the Year Award. She changed careers in the early 1970s when she became a clerk for Employment Canada until her retirement in 1987. After retirement, she enjoyed helping her son sell antiques in malls across the city. She made many new friends and it gave her the opportunity to run into old schoolmates, co-workers, friends and distant relatives she would otherwise not see. As a young woman, Helen was also a very talented seamstress, winning several awards. Later in life she enjoyed quilting, spending hours hand-stitching each one to give as gifts to family and friends. Her cooking and baking was legendary, we will never forget her apple pie, Christmas fruitcake and honey cake. She hosted Christmas dinner at the family home for many years, everyone eagerly anticipating the marinated ham she spent weeks preparing. She enjoyed a full and active life with her sisters and the Demarski family sisters, with whom they formed a life long friendship. Together they celebrated many parties filled with laughter and a lot of people crammed into our small homes. The family also enjoyed many summers at the cottage her father built at Grand Marais in the 1950s. Her son maintains the cottage today as a remembrance of the times when it was filled with the original family members who are now all gone. Family always came first in her life, helping raise her younger sisters, then caring for her parents in their later years while working and raising her son. She always put everyone else's needs ahead of her own. She was so proud of our only family pet Misha, a beautiful Himalayan cat with a quirky personality. They were inseparable and she gave my mother a lot of love and companionship in the 1980s and 1990s. Helen was a strong believer in God, our family attending St. John's Cantius Church for many decades. In her later years, she could no longer attend due to her lack of mobility and endurance. Her faith helped her battle breast cancer in 1999, which she beat hands down. Other less serious problems would appear from time to time, and dealt with, thanks to the diligent care of her son. Helen was extremely proud of her son and his accomplishments, which he will always credit to the love, support and values she gave him. Her later years were not so kind to her. Hearing and vision problems worsened with age and mobility became an issue. She was able to get around her house with a walker until her 94th birthday, after which a chronic back problem worsened, and she was unable to walk. Beginning last July, she required hospital care and home care to provide her basic needs. Her son wishes to thank doctors, nurses and staff at Seven Oaks Hospital for the compassionate care she received in her final months. Also the home care workers who attended to her needs in December and January, especially Olive, who treated her as family. Everyone is invited to a celebration of Helen's life at Friends Funeral Service, 2146 Main Street on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Helen can be made to a charity of your choice.
Publish Date: Feb 25, 2017

HELEN DOUGLAS Helen Douglas, beloved mother of Frank, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2017 at Seven Oaks Hospital after a short illness, at the age of 94. Longer notice to follow next Saturday.

Publish Date: Feb 18, 2017

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 25, 2017