With profound love and deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Helen Mallett, who left this world peacefully on June 17th, 2025, at the age of 93.
Born on September 20th, 1931, in Trail, BC, to parents of Ukrainian ancestry, the cherished daughter of Pauline and Michael Wizinsky. She grew up with three siblings and their early life was innocent, simple and full of love. Later she built a life grounded in values of faith, service, family, and a strong work ethic she credited to her parents.
To me and so many others, she was a pillar of strength, warmth, and unconditional love. Her hands were always busy – caring for others, cooking meals from the heart, baking muffins, gardening, volunteering and offering comfort with just her presence. She lived a life of quiet grace, never seeking recognition, yet profoundly impacting everyone who knew her. Helen was a pillar within the Holy Cross Catholic Church Community, one of the earliest members of the Cordova Bay 55 Plus Association, a longtime member of Uplands Golf Club, and resident of Berwick Royal Oak.
Helen served as a head nurse and supervisor in Victoria’s St. Joseph’s hospital in the 1950’s and ‘60s after having trained with the nuns in a three-year diploma nursing program.
Helen then took on the challenge of educating thousands of health care workers as a Program Coordinator at Camosun College where she developed curriculum and taught students enrolled in programs such as practical nurse, long term care aide and the homemaker program. The programs she and her team developed in the 1980s are the foundation of the provincial curriculum for this level of health care worker. She retired in 1988 leaving a profound legacy within the Victoria, BC medical community.
Helen was the Matriarch of our family and a devoted mother, wife, auntie, grandmother and friend. She leaves behind her loving and devoted daughter Laura (husband Simon Reilly); daughter-in-law Cindy Mallett; grandchildren Ashley and David Mallett; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Helen joins in peace her beloved son Michael Mallett, husband Roy Gunter-Smith, sister-in-law Shirley Wizinsky, and siblings Nicholas Wizinsky, Ann Pattullo, John Wizinsky, and parents Pauline and Michael Wizinsky.
A funeral will be held on Saturday, July 5th, 2025, at Holy Cross Catholic Church at 11 AM with a celebration of life reception to follow at the church. All who knew her and loved her are welcome to attend and celebrate the life of this extraordinary woman.
We are especially grateful to Mom’s many caregivers over the years including Dr A. Yue, Dr K. Yvorchuk, Dr J. Antonsen, and the 8th floor Palliative Care Team of the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
Mom, thank you for everything. Your love will continue to guide me, and I will carry you in my heart forever.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
This obituary is the property of the Mallett family and may not be reproduced, distributed, or altered in any way without prior written consent.
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Pauline Cohen
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Fr .William Hann Well done good and faithful servant! You lived a life of meaning, purpose and service. I have the honor of presiding at your funeral mass today.
Remembered and forever loved
Fr. William
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Lisa Forster-Coull Dear Laura. I was sad to read about your Mom’s passing. I worked with Helen at Camosun College in the early 1980s. It was my first job out of university and she was so supportive of me as a new instructor. I learned so much from her. You and your family are in my thoughts. Lisa
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Dianne Auchinvole What a blessing having her in my life and being one of the Big 7! We had many wonderful years together. your mother was The Best. sorry unable to attend service. Off to see another friend turn 90 yrs. I embrace you with my love. Dianne Auchinvole
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Doreen Marchant My deepest sympathy to you and your family. I first met Helen in 1950 when we entered nurses training. We both raised our families at roughly the same time. A lot of memories of days gone by.
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Elizabeth Metcalfe As a fairly new resident to Berwick Royal Oak, I have valued Helen’s open and honest conversations, her stories and laughter at lunch, and her companionship at the puzzle table. I have learned a lot more about my neighbour Helen, her working life, as well as what she must have meant to her family, and am sending my sincere condolences to them for their loss.
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Doreen Thom My heartfelt condolences to you all,
My memories of Helen go so far back. To the formal supper dances at Uplands back to Helens’ where she cooked up egg sandwiches for the rest of us. To all our golf years together, so many to remember. Then to the Infamous “bridge club” mostly giggles, less bridge, the evenings to dinner and then the Langham Court. Finally to Berwick Royal Oak, at the bridge club for many years the Mantra was “well we go to Berwick”. And there we were, Helen above me and Pat beside me. Thanks for the memories Helen, I will miss my friend.
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Sharon Cook My deepest condolence to the family. I have many fond memories of Helen over the years. The many shared Ukrainian Christmases the stories about her nephew. So many conversations with her I well treasure. God bless rest in peace Helen.
To the family, I have just found of your loss. I too am an early member of CB55+ and knew Helen.
She was a great inspiration to the club and she was such a happy person. I did the day and overnight
trips and she was always on one of them! A great lady! My deepest condolences. May you know that she
enjoyed her life at CB55+ and beyond. Her family was first and foremost!