WIEBE, Helen    -  99, of Oshawa, Ontario, formerly of Coaldale, Alberta, and Clearbrook, BC, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning of February 3, 2019 at the Hillsdale Estates care home with her daughter Lois at her side.

Helen was born September 14, 1919 in Podolsk, Neu Samara, in what had recently become the Soviet Union.

Helen is survived by her daughters Loretta West and Lois (Brian) Bridgeman, sons Alfred (Teresa) Wiebe and Elden (Joy) Wiebe, grandchildren Norman (Lera) Wiebe, Corinna Stobart (Doug McCaskill), Donna (Shane) Soley, Brenda (Kory) McCool, Darcy (Angela) Koop, Brad (Cristal) Koop, Lauren (Tyler Jason) Burke, Nelson (Shelbi) Wiebe, and Luis Bridgeman, as well as 19 great grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren.

Helen was predeceased by her husband Herman Wiebe, and two sons, Norman and Peter.

The oldest of 13 children, she is survived by two brothers, Weldon (Virginia) Reimer and Arnold (Charm) Reimer, and one sister, Loretta Kaminski.

She was predeceased by her father John, mother Maria, sisters Margaret Stickel, Mary Friesen, Hilda Wiens, Tina Van Rijn, and brothers Peter, John, George, Herman, and Rudy. Helen’s life geographically spanned continents and oceans, and technologically spanned the horse/buggy to space flight.

The family immigrated to Canada in 1924 when Helen was 5 years old. They lived first in Colonsay, then Osage, and then Fairholm, Saskatchewan. In 1935 they moved by covered wagon to Coaldale, Alberta area (Readymade).

Helen married Herman in 1950, a widower with 4 children, to which they added two more children. They lived most of their life in Coaldale, Alberta, but moved to Abbotsford, BC in 1983.

In 2000, Helen moved to Whitby/Oshawa, Ontario area where she lived out the remainder of her days near her daughter Lois.

Helen was a very healthy person. She was only ever in the hospital to have children. She was also known to be a very hard worker. In particular she always grew a huge garden (peas, carrots, potatoes, corn, lettuce, beets, cucumbers, strawberries, raspberries, crab apples, and other vegetables we can’t remember).

After all the work of harvesting, much more work went into preserving it all for the winter months.

One aspect of Helen’s life that always remained the same through all the change she experienced was her faith in the Lord.

Jesus was truly present to her through thick and thin. She could testify to Psalm 90:1 “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.” Helen also led her children to the Lord, for which we are ever grateful. Finally, now, she has been welcomed into the loving arms of Jesus, and is able to rest in the peace of her Lord.

The family will have a private graveside service on the afternoon of Thursday, Feb 7.

Friends and relatives are welcome at a Celebration of Life at 11:00 am Friday, Feb 8, 2019. The Celebration of Life will be held at the McEachnie Funeral Home, Ajax, Ontario.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Hillsdale Estates for their loving care of Helen over the last several years. Your gracious care means so much.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Helen may be made to Crossroads Christian Communications.

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