After reaching the milestone age of 100 years, Helen Woolsey of Edmonton passed away on April 24.
During her long life, Helen was a farmer’s daughter, a country school teacher, a Sick Berth Attendant in a Halifax hospital during WWII, a farmer’s wife, a dentist’s wife, and above all a caring homemaker, mother and grandmother.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Robert (Bob) Woolsey, in 1948; her second husband, Harlan Woolsey in 2015; and her parents, Dan and Lawson Rose, of Liberty, Saskatchewan.
She is survived by her three children, Ian Woolsey (Barb) of Tête Jaune Cache, B.C., Dawn Ponich (Waldy) of Vernon, BC, and Leighton Woolsey of Fort Assiniboine, Alberta. Helen also had seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Helen enjoyed photography, knitting, her dogs, and planning trips to feed her genealogy passion.
Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Helen’s life will be held at Penzance, Saskatchewan this summer where she will be reunited with her husbands in the Woolsey family plot in a cemetery a few miles from where she was raised.
The family extends their most grateful thanks and appreciation to the caregivers of Jasper Place Continuing Care, Edmonton, who looked after Mom for the past 13 years including Covid. They are wonderful people.
Mary Bauman says
I offer my condolence to Leighton, Dawn and Ian on the death of your dear mother Helen. My name is Mary Bauman. I live in Ontario and am a relative on the Tough side of the family. Leighton, do you remember in Nov1985, my brother Jim McGillawee and I flew to Edmonton and your mother arranged for you to drive the 4 of us to your brother Ian’s in BC. And Ian, we had such a wonderful time at your place. Dawn, I don’t think we had the pleasure of meeting you. Incidentally, Jim died of a heart attack in 2004. We sort of lost touch with your family but I stumbled on your mother’s obituary this morning. My mother Margaret loved your mother so much and also your grandmother Lawson. Have you already had the celebration of life. I know how much she loved all of you and I am sure she knew how much you all loved her.
Eleanor Lane Farkas says
The Lane family from Penzance and surrounding areas offer our sympathy to the Woolsey family on your loss. What a wonderful legacy she leaves with you. Our families go back here to the early 1900’s. Our dad Reg Lane served during W W I I in Halifax from 1937 until we moved here in 1945. I am sure he must have known her then too.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Eleanor Lane Farkas and all of my siblings and family.