Obituary for Helen Doerksen (Hamm)
On April 9, 2023, Easter Sunday, Helen Doerksen, our beloved mom and grandma joyfully met her Savior Jesus, face to face, a few weeks short of her hundredth birthday.
She was born (Helena) in Friedensfeld, S. Russia in 1923, a perilous revolutionary time, to Abram and Susa Hamm. They fled Russia in 1926 with her brother Peter, arriving in Manitoba for one winter, where an infant brother died. They eventually settled in the Gem, Alberta area where her sister Anne was born. Helen shyly observed her older brother’s friends and fell in love with Peter Doerksen, marrying him in 1945. They farmed in Gem and then Bassano, AB.
Her life was characterized by behind-the-scenes support for Peter, observed in moving many times in pursuit of a farm of their own, his schooling, for Bible school, and eventually his BA and teaching. She chased escaped cows while he worked, supported the family while he studied, hosted countless student groups, Bible studies, missionaries, meals, and visitors, especially when Peter became pastor for seniors at Fairview MB Church in St. Catharines. She always strove to be the perfect hostess and be gracious in all she did. She was a loving wife and mom, a shining example of love and patience, reflecting the love of God, her Lord.
Moving from Alberta to Ontario: Silverdale in 1952, to St. Catharines in 1955, Waterloo in 1960, back to St. Catharines in 1962, and to Abbotsford, BC to retire in 1989. When Peter died in 1992, her courage to drive to their mobile home in Phoenix (with another elderly friend) for approximately 10 years, along with her determination over the years to overcome a broken back, hip, wrist, ribs was characteristic of her courage and grace. She stayed in Abbotsford until Covid, then moved to her daughter Val’s home, in AB, eventually residing in Prince of Peace Manor in Calgary. She made treasured friends at each stop in her life, always radiating Christ’s love. Her grandchildren equate her with the Queen for her style and grace.
Mom always wanted a large family but was only blessed with three, Ervin, Laurena, and eventually Valerie. She bore the heartbreak of miscarriages, unfulfilled adoptions, & guardianship care, praying faithfully for her kids and the ones she had to give back to birth parents. She loved her grandkids and the great grands, always delighting in hearing of their achievements and adventures.
Predeceased by her beloved Peter and son Ervin, survived by Erv’s wife, Deloris Doerksen, Laurena & Dave Dueck, Valerie & Henry Schellenberg, her sister, Anne Foster, 8 grandchildren Peter (Sherena) Doerksen, Andrea (Paul) Paquin, Ron Dueck, Angela (Matt) Dempster, Russ (Lindsay Petrie) Dueck, Kelaena (Wade) Maude, Danika (Kevin) Korthuis, Kendrick Schellenberg and 12 great grandchildren.
The weekend planned to celebrate her 100th birthday, will instead celebrate her long anticipated arrival in Heaven. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 2.30 pm at the Prince of Peace Manor Hall (300 Prince Of Peace Way, Rockyview County, AB, T1X 1G2).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen’s memory to either MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) or to Youth Unlimited, and say it is for Youth Engagement.
To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Helen, please visit www.choicememorial.com.
She was born (Helena) in Friedensfeld, S. Russia in 1923, a perilous revolutionary time, to Abram and Susa Hamm. They fled Russia in 1926 with her brother Peter, arriving in Manitoba for one winter, where an infant brother died. They eventually settled in the Gem, Alberta area where her sister Anne was born. Helen shyly observed her older brother’s friends and fell in love with Peter Doerksen, marrying him in 1945. They farmed in Gem and then Bassano, AB.
Her life was characterized by behind-the-scenes support for Peter, observed in moving many times in pursuit of a farm of their own, his schooling, for Bible school, and eventually his BA and teaching. She chased escaped cows while he worked, supported the family while he studied, hosted countless student groups, Bible studies, missionaries, meals, and visitors, especially when Peter became pastor for seniors at Fairview MB Church in St. Catharines. She always strove to be the perfect hostess and be gracious in all she did. She was a loving wife and mom, a shining example of love and patience, reflecting the love of God, her Lord.
Moving from Alberta to Ontario: Silverdale in 1952, to St. Catharines in 1955, Waterloo in 1960, back to St. Catharines in 1962, and to Abbotsford, BC to retire in 1989. When Peter died in 1992, her courage to drive to their mobile home in Phoenix (with another elderly friend) for approximately 10 years, along with her determination over the years to overcome a broken back, hip, wrist, ribs was characteristic of her courage and grace. She stayed in Abbotsford until Covid, then moved to her daughter Val’s home, in AB, eventually residing in Prince of Peace Manor in Calgary. She made treasured friends at each stop in her life, always radiating Christ’s love. Her grandchildren equate her with the Queen for her style and grace.
Mom always wanted a large family but was only blessed with three, Ervin, Laurena, and eventually Valerie. She bore the heartbreak of miscarriages, unfulfilled adoptions, & guardianship care, praying faithfully for her kids and the ones she had to give back to birth parents. She loved her grandkids and the great grands, always delighting in hearing of their achievements and adventures.
Predeceased by her beloved Peter and son Ervin, survived by Erv’s wife, Deloris Doerksen, Laurena & Dave Dueck, Valerie & Henry Schellenberg, her sister, Anne Foster, 8 grandchildren Peter (Sherena) Doerksen, Andrea (Paul) Paquin, Ron Dueck, Angela (Matt) Dempster, Russ (Lindsay Petrie) Dueck, Kelaena (Wade) Maude, Danika (Kevin) Korthuis, Kendrick Schellenberg and 12 great grandchildren.
The weekend planned to celebrate her 100th birthday, will instead celebrate her long anticipated arrival in Heaven. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 2.30 pm at the Prince of Peace Manor Hall (300 Prince Of Peace Way, Rockyview County, AB, T1X 1G2).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen’s memory to either MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) or to Youth Unlimited, and say it is for Youth Engagement.
To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Helen, please visit www.choicememorial.com.