Passed away in the presence of loving family on March 16, 2015 at the Victoria Hospice.
Predeceased by her first husband, Peter Alan Feltham; sister, Hana; parents, Jiri and Julia; nephews, Adamec and Steven; niece Kenzie and sister-in-law Susan. Helen is survived by her second husband, Carol Joseph Lavoie; sister, Markyta (Ferdinand); sisters and brother-in-law, Janie (Richard), Annie, Mark and Jenny; children Karen, Rosemary, Suzanne, Paul and Claire; children-in-law, Lindsay, Pierre, Raymond and Aundrea; grandchildren, Simon (Sasha), Christine, Daniel, Alyssa, Miriam, Amanda, Madeleine, Nicholas and Bobby; great-grandchildren Kayla and Kieran and many nieces, nephews and precious friends.
Born in Rokycany Czechoslovakia on December 13, 1935, Helen came to Canada in 1948. She met Peter in 1955 and together they raised their family in Abbotsford and Comox. After Peter’s death in 1998, she came to Victoria where she met Carol in 2004 and married in 2009. Beautiful, gracious and ever living life to the fullest, Helen was generous with the energy she gave to her family and community until the very last days of her life. Thank you, Helen, for all the love you have given us.
A vigil will be held at McCall’s Funeral Home from 6:30 – 8:30 pm on Friday March 20th, followed by a funeral and reception at l’Eglise St. Jean Baptiste, 311 Richmond Avenue, Victoria, BC at 11 am on Saturday March 21st. Burial will take place at the Courtenay Civic Cemetery at 6 pm of the same day.
Flowers will be appreciated as are donations to the Victoria Hospice or the Intercultural Association of Greater Victoria.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
26 Responses
Our sincere condolences and prayers to your family at this sad time.
To Helen’s Family and Friends,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. I hope there is some comfort in knowing Helen will not suffer any further. Please accept our sympathies during this exceptionally difficult time for your family.
Nick & Heather Withers
My most sincere sympathy and deep condolences to Carol and to Helen’s large extended family. Helen was such a warm, friendly . cultured and elegant lady. I had the good fortune of being her neighbour for many years and she was always kind, generous and in good humour. We shall all miss her terribly.
Dear Claire and family,
So many memories your beautiful Mom has left with all of you. I know they will be well cherished and often shared.
Please know we are thinking of you and now prompted to share memories of our times with your family. Carol and I have been talking on the phone and Murray sent the newspaper obituary to both of us with a note recalling his remembering babysitting at your house. The memory I often think of when I think of your Mom is from sleep overs at your house in Abbotsford. My mom called the thick cuddly blanket a quilt but your mom said comforter. I’d never heard that before and still think of her whenever I use the term… always have!
Much love and warmest thoughts coming to you all,
Bev and Nick
Armstrong BC
To Helen’s family, please accept my deepest sympathies. I met most of you only once, at Carol and Helen’s wedding. It will always be one of my fondest memories. I had the pleasure of having Helen as my sister-in-law for a few short years, long enough to appreciate the kind and sincere lady she was. Sincerely Denyse
Karen. Lindsay, Christine & Alyssa …. I am so sorry to hear of the passing of “Nana” She was such a beautiful woman with an air of confident and style. I have very fond memories of dropping off Alyssa at her home and hearing stories of their adventures. I also remember her being so supportive of the girl’s dance and schooling. She was truly lovely. I am thinking of you all at this difficult time. Sincerely Robin
For the past 2 1/2 years I’ve had the good fortune to share more than just a fence with a very special woman next-door. Our encounters were brief, unplanned, had no rhythm and, as expected, were always next to or over our fence. Though we shared very few details of our past and current lives, her greetings and casual conversation was always pleasant and so kind that they brought out a feeling of warmth and a smile to my face. She seemed to really enjoy sitting in the middle of her lawn in the sunshine reading or tenderly caring for her garden. Two years ago she no longer needed a magnolia and generously gave it to me. A month after being transplanted the magnolia bloomed and that brought great joy to her face. Last year, when again the magnolia bloomed, I called her over and again there was the expression of joy. Over the past year I’ve come to witness, from across the fence, a constant procession of family and friends that came to visit and care for her. Their shared comments and commitment allowed me to realize that she was very special and deeply loved. That special woman next-door is Helen. Thank you Carol, Helen’s family and close friends, for allowing me to share more than just a fence with a very special person. Helen, the Magnolia is about to bloom.
I knew Helen from attending yoga classes in Fairfield for several years. Her bright smile and calm demeanour will surely be missed by us all. Sending deepest condolences to all the family at such a sad time. My heart is with you.
Words……so inadequate when someone you love passes away.May God comfort you all at this time
Dear Carol, Karen, Rosemary, Suzie, Paul and Claire, grandchildren and great-grandchildren,
What to say. Your mother was indeed a very good friend of mine, as was Peter many years ago, and Carol more recently. I regret so much not being in touch with her this past year. She was the most amazing friend – always calling to check in and stay in touch. I had just been thinking of her last week and wondered what she was up to… All the clichés come to mind – and they are all true. A light has indeed gone out. We will all, indeed, miss her so much. The one about “time will heal all wounds”, however, is baloney. There will always be an emptiness in that corner of our minds which will be, forever, Helen. I cannot be either in Victoria or Courtenay with you this week – but Frank will attend at the cemetery for both of us, and stand beside Helen and Peter for one last time. Be good to each other. Life is too short for regrets. Hugs to you all. Kathryn Askew