January 15, 1954 – June 23, 2011
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2
Surrounded by her loving family, as she would have desired it, with a mixture of joy and sorrow we announce that Anne Helmus very peacefully went home to live eternally with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. After a valiant five-year struggle with cancer, Anne finally succumbed on June 23, but we believe that she is now rejoicing and dancing in heaven. She will be greatly missed by Bill, her loving husband for nearly 33 years, and their four children: Diana and David Reitsma (and much adored Nana to Marshall, Adam, and Kyle), Sean and Anita, Jonathan and Paola, and Ryan. Predeceased by her parents, Willem and Johanna Bakker (Strathroy, Ontario), she will be fondly remembered by her six brothers: Bert (deceased on May 20, 2011) and Ellen of Strathroy, Ontario; Harry and Betty of Bradenton, Florida; Bernie and Irene of Whitby, Ontario; Paul and Lory of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Ralph and Diane of Palmerston, Ontario; and Wilmar and Melinda of Listowel, Ontario. Many other members of her large extended family will miss her dearly as well. After meeting while teaching at Calgary Christian School, with Anne teaching Grade 5, Anne and Bill were married in Calgary, Alberta in 1978, where their first three children (Diana, Sean, Jonathan) were born. From 1983-1985 they lived in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea, where their youngest son, Ryan, was born, while they served with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Upon returning to Canada, they lived in Bowmanville, Ontario for eleven years. Anne spent some years at home raising the children, and also taught in local public elementary schools for several years, the final three years in Grade 1, while Bill served as principal of Knox Christian School. The family moved to Victoria in 1997 when Bill took up the position as principal of Pacific Christian Elementary School. Anne taught various elementary grades in the Saanich School District, with her final few years at Saanichton and KELSET elementary schools. Anne was always dedicated first and foremost to her Lord and to her family, but she was also very passionate about her teaching, deeply caring for every single student. She loved teaching! Anne was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in September 2006, just weeks after she and Bill returned from a wonderful 5-week missions trip, serving in rural Christian schools in Zambia, Africa. Although she suffered long and endured much, she never complained, but accepted and took in stride all of these significant changes to her personal goals and plans. Her desire was to honour God in every aspect of her life. “Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.” That is exactly what Anne has done! She was greatly loved and will be deeply missed by all who knew her and were impacted by her life.
Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Patti Olsen for her genuine love and care, and to Dr. Jorg Michels and many other caring and competent physicians, nurses and other staff at the Victoria Cancer Clinic, plus Royal Jubilee and Victoria General Hospitals. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Cancer Society, or to your favourite charity.
Everyone is invited to a special service to celebrate Anne’s life at GLAD TIDINGS PENTECOSTAL CHURCH on Wednesday, June 29 at 3:00 pm. A private graveside service will be held earlier at Royal Oak Burial Park. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com.
39 Responses
Heartfelt condolences. I knew Anne when we taught together at Stowe with Jan Engel. She was vibrant, energetic and just really nice! She will be missed. May there be a place in heaven where we can meet again.
Dear Bill, and family –
We remember Anne with deep admiration for who she was – a strong woman of God, and a faithful witness to His love and care. We rejoice with her that she now sees Him face to face, and all is well for her. Our sincere condolences to you, and to her children and grandchildren in the loss of one so dear to all of you. She fought the good fight, and has finished her race. May God grant this also for all of you as you look towards the day when you will be reunited. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Love in Christ – Janette and Joe.
Bill & Family,
Cancer Cannot
Cancer is limited-
It cannot erase love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot overpower faith,
It cannot harm friendship,
It cannot destroy peace,
It cannot cancel memories,
It cannot invade our spirit,
It cannot steal eternal life,
It cannot lessen the power
of Christ’s resurrection.
author unknown
Praying for you as you celebrate Anne’s life, unshakeable faith, mom’s heart, wife’s love, and her perfect heavenly healing.
May God hold each one of you in the His arms.
Debra & Ashley
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. I believe that the angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved one is safe in the hand of God.
Iris
Bill
On behalf of the whole CTABC Community and myself, we offer our condolences. Anne’s verse, given at the beginning of the obituary, will be a wonderful comfort to you, your family, friends and colleagues. May God’s strength and comfort be yours to experience as you face the future without Anne.
Peter Van Huizen
We are so very sorry and sad to hear about your loss, Bill. Such a courageous woman who gave so much. She is, indeed, in His loving arms, wrapped in His warmth and glory.
I think of John 14, verse 27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Our utmost sympathies and prayers go to you and your family.
Jack, Joanne, Douglas and David Kimm
Bill,
Fabian, Barron, Joyce and I send our prayers as you grieve your loss. May God bless you, keep you and give you comfort.
Dear Bill,
While we are deeply saddened by your loss, we hold you & Anne in our hearts with a profound sense of love and respect. It has been said that “circumstances don’t make us what we are, but they do reveal who we are” … We have been inspired by your testimony of faith, love and courage during Anne’s illness. You have shown us what it means to live victorious in Christ, even when the pain is unbearable. We love you and will always cherish the life-lessons we have learned from your example.
May God bless you, keep you and give you comfort …
Dixie, Travis, Cole & Caleb Stewart
Dear Bill, Anne and I were college roommates at Calvin in our junior year and suitemates our senior year. We stayed in touch. I was blest to know her. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your children and grandchildren for now, and the days ahead.
Dear Bill,
I just heard through Gerrie Vanderveen of Anne’s passing, and I thought that it just wasn’t fair. She was much too young, especially as I remember her in her first year of teaching and then her consequent years with you, when you too joined CCS. Her life since I last saw her (probably in late 1979) has been very full with family and service in the Lord.
I will remember one of the last gatherings I was at with Anne–it was a baby shower for her and for your first born. She was vibrant then, and knew exactly where she was headed and what she wanted. I’m glad the Lord blessed you two so richly in family and service in Him through all these years.
You will miss her. My husband passed away Dec. 2009, and I miss him terribly, even knowing that the life he was living the last years were so difficult. You will probably have those same feelings for Anne. God will take you through, and His promises are for eternity, with a future gathering of all His children as we will live again in the most glorious place beyond our current comprehension.
I saw a glimpse of you at church when I was visiting Victoria with my brother Harro in April 2009–but I didn’t recognize you. I had hoped to meet you two knowing you were in Victoria, but I didn’t know it was you till you were gone and Harro told me who he had been talking to. God bless you, and your family!
Miki Stewart (Van Brummelen)