HELEN HOFFMAN

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HELEN HOFFMAN The family of Helen Hoffman sadly announces her passing on September 14, 2007. Helen was born two months early on May 13, 1920 to Walter and Mabel Brown, In an era without incubators, Mum hung on and made it! Helen first worked as a hairdresser before taking employment with UGG as a controller. While working there she met Dad. They had both sought shelter under the same tree during a down pour one day. They were married in June of 1957. In 1970 it was discovered she had breast cancer and she under went a double mastectomy. Also in 1970, Dad was diagnosed with emphysema. She was his sole caregiver until he was taken from her in May of 1996. Mum's love and dedication to Dad throughout his illness was a great inspiration to us. She remained healthy and active until 2005 when a heart attack caught her (and us) off guard. We feared she wouldn't make it through the night but Mum surprised us all and before long was discharged home. In July 2007, Mum was taken to hospital with a minor heart attack. Again she made it home but this time, though she fought hard to make a full recovery, by mid-August it was obvious that she was beginning to lose the battle. Pneumonia sent her back to hospital one final time and she lost her battle on September 14, 2007. She was 87. Besides her beloved husband Donald, Helen was predeceased by her parents, sister Lil Miller, brother Fred Brown, parents-in-law, Nellie and Tuney Hoffman, as well as her brother-in-law Allan Hoffman. Helen will be lovingly remembered by her son Glenn, daughter Lynne and son-in-law Jack Lang, as well as her three grandchildren, Michelle, Nicole and Donald Lang and Nicole's fiancé Mikel Ventnor. Mum is also survived by, and will be greatly missed by her brother Harry Brown, in-laws, Hazel and Al Barrett, as well as several nieces, great-nieces, nephews and great-nephews across Canada and many good friends. Glenn and I would also like to thank those who assisted her over the past two years, with a special word of thanks to the staff of N3W at Concordia Hospital who did all they could to help us help Mum through her final days. I would like to especially thank my brother Glenn for everything he did for Mum. Helen chose cremation and a private interment of ashes will take place at a later date. A gathering of friends and family to share stories, pictures and remembrances will take place at John Black Memorial United Church on October 2 at 1:30 p.m.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 22, 2007