HELEN GERALDINE LYONS (BENTLEY)

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HELEN GERALDINE LYONS
(nee BENTLEY)

Mom was born in Hearst, Ontario and moved to Manitoba as a young child. After the death of her parents, less than six months apart from each other, Mom and brothers, Tom and Harold, were to be cared for by a family member as was prearranged during her parents illnesses, instead, they were all put into foster care. Mom was not only a survivor of foster care (26 sets of foster parents), but also of the Great Depression, as could be gleaned from the many small containers of leftover food in the refrigerator. She met her husband Harold on a blind date arranged by Bud and Nora Philips, and after finding out about each other's childhood, they found a great deal in common, (as Dad was also an orphan and had foster parents as well). Married in 1950, they lived in East Kildonan (E.K.) on Martin Street, where they were soon surrounded by friends, friends that they kept all their lives. As the family grew, they moved from Martin to McLeod in E.K. then to Maplewood Street in Riverview, where all the kids' schools were within blocks of each other.
Mom was a full time homemaker who overcame a lot of challenges in her life to become our rock, that we all took for granted at the time, as stay at home Moms were the norm for the time. Now in retrospect we have realized how good we had it, and all she sacrificed. Mom was proud of her children, and had a quiet way of letting you know if she didn't like what you were up to, or not so quiet, with a "you wait until your father gets home"...when she'd had enough of our shenanigans. Mom had class and a quiet dignity about her that she maintained for as long as she had her independence. Mom contracted breast cancer and dementia later in life, and was ready to meet her maker near the end. She was not afraid of death, and she told us so, that was her final lesson to her kids.
Whether putting on her Sunday best to go to church, The Bay, Eaton's, or any other out of house errand, she was always proper and put together.
Mom was happiest when her house was full of her kids and their respective mates. Mom wanted us all to be home for Sunday dinners, where we would all catch up on what each of us was doing. Mom was a great cook...we didn't miss many dinners. She was always interested in what was going on with us and "the cousins". She had a special place in her heart for her brothers, Tom and Harold, and by extension to their children and grandchildren.
Mom's humour, laughter and enjoyment of family life will be missed, and forever remembered by us. She will always be lovingly remembered by those who knew her.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Avenue.

For those who wish to sign the online
Guest Book please visit www.chapellawn.ca

Chapel Lawn Funeral Home
204-885-9715

Publish Date: Aug 13, 2019

HELEN GERALDINE LYONS
(nee BENTLEY)

Helen Geraldine Lyons passed away August 7, 2019 at the age of 95 years.
Born August 2, 1924, Helen was predeceased by her husband Harold Andrew Lyons (May 11, 1987); son Bruce Andrew Lyons (June 25, 1994); daughter-in-law Ellen Lyons (nee Grime, February 13, 1997); great-grandson Harrison James Simons; and brothers, Tom "Sykes" Bentley and Harold Bentley.
She will be lovingly remembered by her surviving daughter Wendy Ann Lyons-Beck (Lindsay) and children, Andrew and Emma; son David Campbell Lyons (Lise) and children, Laurel (Johnny) and Ashton Stepien (Matt) and children, Parker and Brody, Hayley Simons (Scott) and son Grayson and Douglas Bentley Lyons (Patricia) and son Tyler.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Avenue.
The family would like to extend their thanks to Golden West Centennial Lodge and the staff of the fifth floor.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Salvation Army.

For those who wish to sign the online
Guest Book please visit www.chapellawn.ca

Chapel Lawn Funeral Home
204-885-9715

Publish Date: Aug 10, 2019

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 10, 2019, Aug 13, 2019