Helene Germaine LaRochelle

LAROCHELLE, Helene Germaine (nee Bouveur). Helen died peacefully at age 86 just before sunrise on March 25, 2010, in Victoria BC, with her daughter at her bedside. Helen was born on February 7, 1924, in Regina, Saskatchewan.  After high school she attended a three-year commercial course at a technical school then took a position working for a family doctor until he closed his practice to join the army. She then worked at a local bank as a bookkeeper as she always enjoyed working with numbers. Helen decided to join the army herself and took her basic training in Kitchener, Ontario. She became a stenographer in the barracks and was promoted to Corporal. Helen moved to Victoria after demobilization of the army at the end of WW11. She then worked at the Legislative Buildings as a senior stenographer at the Ministry of Lands until 1958 when she married her husband.

Predeceased by her husband Larry (Frenchie) in 1984, her two brothers Roger and Peter, and son in law, Mike, in 2005. Helen is survived by her daughter, Denise Laderoute and her four furry grandchildren, whom she adored.

Helen loved animals of all kinds. Her heart would ache if she heard a story of an animal in distress. She was a kind and polite lady who never lost her sense of humour, nor her youthful spirit and wit, even when she began to slowly go blind with macular degeneration and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the same year. She eventually sold the family home and moved to a nearby apartment and continued to shop and lunch with friends until she couldn’t see to ride the bus anymore. In March 2007 she moved to Parkwood Court for the care she so deserved. Her greatest pleasure in life was spending time with her daughter.  She also enjoyed listening to her music CD’s, feeling the warm sun in her face, walking the Songhees on a sunny day, visits with her grand-dog, Chinese food dinners with her kid, or a simple coffee and a donut on a Saturday afternoon.

Sincere thanks to Parkwood Court for the past 3 years of care; to Dr. Antonsen, Dr. Veres, and the nursing staff of the Renal Unit on Royal 1 at the Jubilee Hospital; and most of all, thanks to the kind and caring staff of the Lodge at Broadmead for your compassionate treatment of Helen for the short week that she was with you.  She was really looking forward to enjoying her new home.

No service by request.  Private cremation at Royal Oak Burial Park. Donations may be made to the Victoria Chapter of the SPCA, Canadian Diabetes Assn, or the CNIB.  Flowers gratefully declined.

Ni-night-Mama.   You will be missed every day for the rest of my life. You belong with the angels now.