GOGGIN, Helen Louise - BA, BD TST, MA PSCE, MEd, EdD
The Rev. Dr. Helen Goggin, a minister of The Presbyterian Church in Canada and Professor Emeritus of Knox College, Toronto, passed peacefully on Friday, February 12, 2021, in hospital in Oakville, Ontario, at age 87.
Predeceased by her parents John Harold Goggin and Myrtle Lorene Goggin (nee Millar).
Helen was the much loved cousin of Jean Kane (nee Everett) and her children Stephen (Wendy) Terry (predeceased), Brian (Susan) Terry, Lori Terry, and Wayne (Cindy) Terry and their families; cousins Wendy (David) Anderson, Gary (Cheryl) Millar (predeceased), and Bill (Jackie) Millar and their 8 children and 13 grandchildren all with hearts broken by Helen's passing; the Everett family and Dudman family cousins: as well as many more.
She was predeceased by the love of her life, Douglas Cooper, whose children Donald (Deanna) Cooper, Mary (Andrew) Huffman, Sean (Barbara) Cooper and Penny (Don) Murray and 7 grandsons and 1 granddaughter became her family too.
Helen was born on May 21, 1933 and raised in Port Credit, Ontario.
Following high school, she worked as a legal secretary for six years (1952-1959) before attending the University of Toronto where she received her BA in 1962, and her BD from Knox College in 1965.
During these years Helen was a member of the Clarkson Opera Group (1952-1968), the Simpson Avenue United Church Opera Group in Toronto, and the Victoria College Music Club, singing many of the soprano roles in Gilbert and Sullivan and delighting others with her musical talent. In 1965, Helen became the Director of Christian Education at Knox Presbyterian Church in Oakville.
In 1970, she obtained her MA in Christian Education from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia.
Helen was ordained at Knox Presbyterian Church, Oakville, in 1974 and inducted as the Associate Minister in 1976.
She left in 1984, to take up the position of Associate Professor of Christian Education at Ewart College in Toronto. While teaching fulltime Helen obtained her MEd from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, and then her EdD in 1990. In 1991, Ewart College and Knox College were amalgamated and Helen became the Ewart Professor of Christian Education at Knox College. Helen retired from teaching in 1999.
Helen served the church on numerous Boards and Committees at the Presbytery and National levels, at Knox College, and through her Professional Associations. She published a hymn, chapters and articles in books and journals, and led Seminars and Workshops in Christian Education.
Throughout her life Helen enjoyed activities like painting in oils and sketching, dressmaking, and swimming; singing in Opera Groups, her church choir and at weddings; "doing lunch" with friends and entertaining; and traveling to many parts of the world.
She also took great care in choosing beautiful books to give to the children and young people in her life. Helen's academic achievements are a testament to her love of learning and teaching and how strongly she believed in the importance of education.
Helen was an avid reader all of her life and often said she was so fortunate to have a job that paid her to do what she loved to do. Helen will be remembered lovingly by all of her family, her Knox Church Family, her former colleagues and students, her close friends, and the countless number of people with whom she crossed paths during her lifetime.
A Celebration of Life Service will be livestreamed on March 5, 2021, at 2 p.m. from Knox Presbyterian Church in Oakville. For information on how to access the service, please visit knoxoakville.com, email the church office, or call 905-844-3472.
An interment service will take place in the Knox Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden at a future date.
In memory of Helen, please share in an act of kindness.
For memorial donations, please consider the New Roads Project or Memorial Garden Fund at Knox Presbyterian Church in Oakville www.knoxoakville.com. Both were close to Helen's heart.
If donating by cheque, please make your cheque payable to Knox Presbyterian Church, with the fund noted on the memo line.
Memorial donations can also be made to a charity of your choosing. Helen's family members have dealt with cancer, Parkinson's, and heart disease.
The family extends their heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital for their care and compassion over these past months.
As well, a heartfelt thank you to all those close to Helen for their love, support, and prayer.
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