BARBARA HELEN MCDIARMID (AUGER)

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BARBARA HELEN MCDIARMID (nee AUGER) With her daughters at her side, Helen slipped peacefully into God's care on January 19, 2007 at the St. Norbert Personal Care Home, Winnipeg. Helen was born on April 8, 1920 in Winnipeg, MB and lived here all of her life. She graduated from Kelvin High School, then started working for her father before going on to live a variety of adventures. She was involved in many activities with her five children as they grew up, such as designing and sewing dance costumes, cub leader, hockey and figure skating mom. She spent summers with them at Matlock Beach and Clearwater Bay. She was an extremely talented seamstress and knitter, and gifted her children and grandchildren with many cherished items. Helen was a lifelong member of the United Church of Canada. Her home church was Riverview United, until it merged with Rosedale United to become Churchill Park United. She enjoyed the music at Westworth United Church and eventually switched to that church and attended with her daughters, Christie and Jacquie. She was a member of many groups and organizations such as the Liberal Party of Canada and St. Agnes Guild. She always participated to the best of her abilities which included great organizational skills and a willingness to give of her time and of herself. She was always eager to do what she could for others. Helen faced many challenges but always met them head on. In 1977 she joined Alcoholics Anonymous. She was a proud and active member of the Wildwood Group and the Tuxedo Group. In true form, she was devoted to service to others both on the personal and committee levels. She was involved in organizing numerous conferences locally and enjoyed attending international AA Conferences throughout North America. Helen truly practiced these principals in all her affairs . But of all the things she did and enjoyed away from her family, she had two great passions in her life, curling and bridge. She started doing both in her early 20s and continued to curl past the age of 75 and played bridge until 85 when she was no longer physically able to attend. She curled out of the Pembina CC, the Wildewood CC, as well as with the Crocus CC ladies. Her home club was the Fort Rouge Ladies' CC of which she was a past president. She was also a past president of the Manitoba Ladies' Curling Association, and was in on the development of the Curling Hall of Fame. Through curling connections she travelled to Scotland several times and was involved in the tours the Scottish Ladies made to Manitoba. She connected her desire to travel and curling by going to several world curling championships with her friend Penny, and they always managed to go someplace warm and exotic after the events. She played bridge for over 40 years with the same group of neighbourhood women. She also played in the University Woman's Bridge Club with her friends, Grace and Margaret. She last played in the Fort Garry and Waverly Heights Seniors' Clubs. If she could get three others together, she was always ready for a game. She leaves behind to cherish their memories of her, sons, Bill (Monique Paquin) Mitchell, Jim (Carol) Mitchell, and daughters, Candy (Wayne) Skrapek, Jacquie Mitchell and Christie (Neil Arnason) McDiarmid; her six loving grandchildren, Aidan and Elizabeth McDiarmid, Erin and Colin Skrapek and Jamie and Kate Mitchell; her younger sister Dean (Jack) Richmond, plus her nieces and nephew. She was predeceased by her parents, Barbara and William Auger and her two older sisters, Margaret (Charlie) Stewart and Dorothy (Robert) Davie. The family would like to thank all staff working at the Saint Norbert Personal Care Home for their respectful and caring attentions given to Helen during her stay there. The funeral will be held at Westworth United Church, 1750 Grosvenor Ave. on Wednesday, January 24 at 3:00 p.m. The Rev. Ted Dodd will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice or the M M 5 Fund of Westworth. THOMSON IN THE PARK Funeral Home and Cemetery 1291 McGillivray Blvd. 925-1120 www.thomsoninthepark.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 21, 2007