HELEN EUGENIE CALL (STEBNICKI)

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HELEN EUGENIE CALL (nee STEBNICKI) February 28, 1924 - September 24, 2007 On Monday, September 24, 2007, Helen Call passed away peacefully with her daughter Liz by her side, at Deer Lodge Centre, Winnipeg, at the age of 83 years. Remaining to cherish Helen's memory are her daughter Liz Olson (husband Kenn) and grandson Graeme. She was predeceased by her brother Edward Stebnicki in 1932; father Joseph Stebnicki in 1940; brother Dr. Alfred O. Stebnick in 1980; mother Mary Stebnicki in 1985; and her husband Geoffrey Call in 2003. Helen and Geoffrey met at school when they both lived in Winnipeg's North End. She attended the Misericordia School of Nursing and was wooed by a steady stream of doctors while Geoff was overseas during the war. Upon discovering he was back in town, Helen immediately stood up her date, the poor fellow watching, as she swept past on the arm of the handsome Geoffrey! They were married in 1948. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Helen lived in Toronto for a few years when Geoff's work took him out east, but they were soon back to stay. She worked as a nurse at Deer Lodge Veterans' Hospital until daughter Liz was born in 1959. A career woman ahead of her time, Helen returned to the work force only a few years later, eventually attaining the position of administrator with the Baron Nursing Home. She was a compassionate nurse and a dedicated worker, but the strain of being a health care professional eventually took its toll. Helen retired early and struggled with arthritis in her later years. As a woman who loved kids, Helen delighted in being a surrogate Grandma to many friends' children. She finally got to be a Grandma for real when Graeme was born in 1996. She was generous to a fault, extravagantly showering everyone she knew with gifts for every possible occasion. She enjoyed shopping, cooking, gardening, feeding her birds, spoiling her cats, and always relished a good chat with her many friends. Trips to the Victoria Beach cottage with Geoff were one of the highlights of their retirement years. Helen possessed an unrelentingly independent spirit, insisting on staying in her home despite her declining health. Anyone else would have long ago ordered a wheelchair and signed up for a care home, but she absolutely refused to give in. It was the stroke in 2000 that finally made the decision for her. Helen had come full circle: she was now a resident of Deer Lodge Centre, loved and cared for just as she had cared for so many others many years before. Helen's memorial service will be held on Friday, October 12 at 2:30 p.m. in the Deer Lodge Worship Centre, 2109 Portage Avenue. Interment will be at All Saints Cemetery at a later date. Heartfelt thanks to Fred Greengrass for the gift of his friendship. To the wonderful staff of Lodge 7 at Deer Lodge Centre: thank you all so much for the outstanding care you provided to Helen over the years. A mother's love is instinctual, unconditional, and forever.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 06, 2007