Obituary for Helen Ann Perry (Massie)
Mom is finally at peace. And while it is incredibly sad for those of us left behind, we are comforted knowing she is reunited with loved ones and free of the challenges life had posed over the past few years.
Helen Ann Massie was born many years ago in Saskatchewan - there’s a long story about her actual age and the number really doesn’t matter - what does is that she lived a long and full life, loved by many and always with love and compassion for those she met. Since letting people know of her passing September 2, Dad, Ian and I have received many beautiful messages remembering Mom’s laughter, her smile, her kindness and her generosity. Dementia robbed her of much in recent years, but those were traits that endured to the end.
The Mom we’ll remember is the one who always challenged us to be our best, who championed and supported us and who always had our back. The one who was quick to laugh, loved to shop (in the tiniest of prairie towns, she’d be the first to suggest we go shopping), and made beautiful memories through knitting and quilting. She had lifelong friendships that she treasured - Bernice, Lucille and Frances (with whom she enjoyed some memorable girls’ weekends), Betty and Bert, Barb and Ray, and many, many more. At her 50th high school reunion she learned about the boys who had crushes on her - and she enjoyed getting together with “the kids” from Mount View through to their 70th (!) reunion.
She had a wonderful husband in Dad - and a marriage that lasted nearly 57 years. Most important to her were her grandchildren. She didn’t have nearly enough time with the grandchildren she waited so long to have - Rachel, Aidan, Christiane and Drew were lucky to have known her and felt her love.
Mom was a proud Canadian, and proud of her Scottish heritage. She and Dad had many wonderful trips including Scotland, Hawaii, Alaska, Palm Springs, the Panama Canal. And we’ll always remember trips in the camper - to Disneyland, St. Albert, Prince Albert, Victoria. She loved growing up in Victoria and being near the sea - and it will be in Victoria where she will be laid to rest, alongside her Mom and Dad, her brother Craig and beloved dog Bailey.
Mom did not want a funeral, but we will be celebrating her life over coming weeks. She asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or Cancer Society. Support for research to end Alzheimers would also be appreciated.
Mom is survived by husband Doug, daughter Jennifer (Paul) and son Ian (Marcy); her grandchildren Aidan and Christiane, Rachel and Drew; nephew Darren Massie and niece Debbie Gardner (Rod) and children Hayley and Nicholas.
We are tremendously grateful to the staff at Carewest George Boyak for caring for her in her last few months - and to her fellow residents for their companionship.
This is the first weekend where we haven’t gone to see Mom, to enjoy a glass of wine in the garden (when we offered tea or wine, she was quite definitive in asking for the wine). She will be dearly missed, but we know she is in a better place.
Helen Ann Massie was born many years ago in Saskatchewan - there’s a long story about her actual age and the number really doesn’t matter - what does is that she lived a long and full life, loved by many and always with love and compassion for those she met. Since letting people know of her passing September 2, Dad, Ian and I have received many beautiful messages remembering Mom’s laughter, her smile, her kindness and her generosity. Dementia robbed her of much in recent years, but those were traits that endured to the end.
The Mom we’ll remember is the one who always challenged us to be our best, who championed and supported us and who always had our back. The one who was quick to laugh, loved to shop (in the tiniest of prairie towns, she’d be the first to suggest we go shopping), and made beautiful memories through knitting and quilting. She had lifelong friendships that she treasured - Bernice, Lucille and Frances (with whom she enjoyed some memorable girls’ weekends), Betty and Bert, Barb and Ray, and many, many more. At her 50th high school reunion she learned about the boys who had crushes on her - and she enjoyed getting together with “the kids” from Mount View through to their 70th (!) reunion.
She had a wonderful husband in Dad - and a marriage that lasted nearly 57 years. Most important to her were her grandchildren. She didn’t have nearly enough time with the grandchildren she waited so long to have - Rachel, Aidan, Christiane and Drew were lucky to have known her and felt her love.
Mom was a proud Canadian, and proud of her Scottish heritage. She and Dad had many wonderful trips including Scotland, Hawaii, Alaska, Palm Springs, the Panama Canal. And we’ll always remember trips in the camper - to Disneyland, St. Albert, Prince Albert, Victoria. She loved growing up in Victoria and being near the sea - and it will be in Victoria where she will be laid to rest, alongside her Mom and Dad, her brother Craig and beloved dog Bailey.
Mom did not want a funeral, but we will be celebrating her life over coming weeks. She asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or Cancer Society. Support for research to end Alzheimers would also be appreciated.
Mom is survived by husband Doug, daughter Jennifer (Paul) and son Ian (Marcy); her grandchildren Aidan and Christiane, Rachel and Drew; nephew Darren Massie and niece Debbie Gardner (Rod) and children Hayley and Nicholas.
We are tremendously grateful to the staff at Carewest George Boyak for caring for her in her last few months - and to her fellow residents for their companionship.
This is the first weekend where we haven’t gone to see Mom, to enjoy a glass of wine in the garden (when we offered tea or wine, she was quite definitive in asking for the wine). She will be dearly missed, but we know she is in a better place.