1937-2012
Helen passed away on June 5, 2012 at Royal Inland Hospital, Kamloops, B.C. She was a kind and loving soul and will be missed by all who knew her. Survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Larry; daughters Elaine (Kerry) Staples and Sandra Bertrand, four grandchildren: Renée (Erik) Petersen, Darcey (Victoria), Jamie (Devin) Hemmelgren and Talyn Bertrand; four great-grandchildren: Ava Petersen, Jadin, Jessie and Aliyha Staples; sisters-in-law Suzanne Neibour, Jean Bertrand, Sheila Skinner; brothers-in-law Les Blyth, Denis Bertrand and numerous nieces and nephews.
Helen was predeceased by her parents, her four siblings: Annie (Jim) Graham, Ethel (Alex) Graham, Laura Blyth and Norman Skinner; sister-in-law Irene Bertrand (Gary Arnold) and brother-in-law Robert Bertrand.
Helen was born in Whitewood, Saskatchewan to Benjamin and Winnifred “Maude” Skinner. She began her schooling there; her transportation, an old one-eyed horse “May” and completed her education in Trail, B.C. after moving from Saskatchewan to Fruitvale, B.C. She began training as a Psychiatric Nurse in 1957 at which time she met Larry and they were married in 1959, the same year she graduated as an RPN. She most enjoyed her life while raising her family on a small acreage in Maple Ridge (Haney), B.C., delegating chores of the care of the animals: Sally the sow and her piglets, Bessie the cow, chickens and horses of course; along with an “always too large a garden.” In 1974 she, with family, relocated to 160 acres of bush at Fawn Lake, near 100 Mile House, B.C. A 15x 30 bunk house, power (generator), water (nearby Fawn Creek), plumbing (outhouse), communications (radio phone). She soon became very efficient with a chainsaw and her 4/10 Birdgun. She also shared her time at 100 Mile General Hospital as an LPN. She retired after 15 years and settled into her new home at Deka Lake. After a short stay there, she moved to Kamloops for the purpose of kidney dialysis care.
Cremation took place and her cremated remains will join her son Raymond at Lakeview Community Cemetery, Hwy 24 “Roe Lake”. The date for the interment and gathering of family and friends will be announced at a later date.
Cremation entrusted to
Schoening Funeral Service, Kamloops 250.374.1454