HELENE BEATON (NEUFELD)

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HELENE BEATON (nee NEUFELD) It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Helene Beaton (nee Neufeld). She passed away peacefully, Sunday, August 1, 2004, with her daughters by her side, after a brief but determined battle with cancer. She will be mourned and sadly missed by her mother Katherina; her husband of 37 years Jim; and her two daughters, Dana (James) and Nicki (Shannon). Her true pride and joy was her four grandchildren, Noah (5), Ireland (4), Avery (2) and Easton (2). They will miss their wonderful Grammy so much. She is also survived by two sisters, Val (Philippe) and Lily (Eugene) and one brother Robert (Susan) and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father Kornelius in 2002; and her beloved dog Beau in 1999. She spoke about being consoled in her terminal illness by being reunited with them both. Helene was born in 1947, in Wells, Austria, the second of four children. Her family emigrated to Paraguay, South America soon after, then emigrated to Canada in 1955. In her teenage and early adult years she worked very hard, as a short order cook/waitress and a sewing machine operator. She married Jim in 1967, and they had their daughters in 1971 and 1973. Raising her girls as a stay at home mom was her true passion, and had it been possible she often said she would have "had a dozen". Instead, she became the "second mom" to most of her kids friends, and now will be missed by many of her devoted "kids". She was known to all as an amazing cook, ready to feed any number of people on a moments notice, and was skilled at both home cooked comfort food and five course gourmet meals. She kept the cleanest home, and was an excellent gardener, but was most known as a truly devoted mother. As her girls grew up, she learned to be a tax officer, and using her skills in speaking Ukrainian, worked for the government doing taxes for seniors. She suffered from chronic pain and many health problems, but she never complained. Her true joy came when she became a grandmother, with four grandchildren in four years. She was the most fun and doting Grammy, providing full time care to her younger daughters children, Ireland and Easton. To all her grandkids, she was the type of Grammy who got down on the floor and played tirelessly at any game they chose, including hours of Barbies or action figures. Helene was such a loving and giving person, with a wonderful sense of humour. She has been such a supportive and caring daughter, sister, wife, friend, mother and grandmother - truly an example to all who knew her. All through her diagnosis in April 2004, and her treatment, and with increasingly bad news throughout the process, she stayed strong and determined, and an inspiration to all who knew her and came in contact with her. Very special thanks go to the doctors, nurses and unit assistants on both the A5 and D4 wards at the Health Sciences Centre for their genuine caring and compassion. An extra special thank you to Dr. Renate Singh. Cremation has taken place, and Helenes family invite all who knew her to a memorial service, Thursday, August 5 at 11:00 a.m. at Neil Bardal Inc, 984 Portage Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, 675 McDermot, Room ON1160, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 04, 2004