With grieving hearts we announce the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Mary Helen Alice Power (nee Beauchemin).  Mom passed peacefully with family by her side on March 24th, 2020.  Predeceased by her father Benjamin and mother Irene, brothers Bill, Louis and Benny and sisters Rita, Yvonne and Lorette.  Predeceased by her devoted husband Chesley who will be so happy to dance with her again in heaven. Left to mourn are her loving children, Ben, Jennifer (Bill), Rosanne (Dave), Fred, Angela (Brad) and Carolyn (Max) and her grandchildren Kristopher (Alex), Marissa (Dave), Darroch, Michaela (Cyrus), Marcus, Joshua, Wesley and Dylan.  She also leaves behind her brothers Bert (Penny) and Pat Beauchemin, devoted nieces Claudette (Don) Adamek and Aline (Stan) Russell, sisters in law Sharon (John) Payne and Maureen (Jack) Tucker and many other nieces and nephews.

Mom was born on a very cold day on January 17, 1936 in Ericksdale, Manitoba and spent her early years in Manitoba.  She was raised on a farm and had many tales to tell of riding, and doing the many chores of a working farm including milking cows, shooting ducks for dinner and haying.  She came from an illustrious Metis family in Manitoba and her great Grandfather and two great uncles were involved in the Riel Rebellion (1869) and the Riel Resistance (1885) a matter of great family pride. She was a hard worker from her earliest days and could always tell us that she walked three miles in the snow to school, because she did.  She trained to become a nurse and was a compassionate and loving caregiver.  When she finished her training, she travelled west to British Columbia taking nursing jobs along the way.  She ended up in Tofino, where she met Chesley who was in the RCMP at the time.  They married in 1959 and had six children and eight grandchildren over 55 years of marriage.  She ended her career at Oak Bay Lodge where she worked for over ten years.  She came back to Oak Bay Lodge as a resident for the last year.

Mom was one of those people who could do anything, fix a bike, bake an incredible pie or roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, dress as the model she was in her youth or simply tell a joke as one of the quickest witted persons around. She was a devoted mother who put her family first, but in her sixties she took up golfing and became “Hole in one Helen” for her ability to one shot at her local par 3 Henderson Golf Course.  This earned her an appearance on the front page of the Times Colonist and on the CBC radio show “As it happens”.  She was perhaps the world’s greatest Elvis fan and saw many Elvis tribute artists and visited Graceland.

Mom bore her final illness with grace and her characteristic sense of humility and humour.  She was very grateful for the loving caregivers at the Oak Bay Lodge (and previously Glenwarren Lodge), where she was provided such compassionate care.  We are saddened to lose our family Matriarch but she was a person of such strong faith we know she is singing and jigging with the angels.

A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 27th, 2020 with interment to follow at Hatley Memorial Gardens; Father Frank Franz officiating.  Flowers gratefully declined but if desired donations can be made to Arts & Alzheimers or to the Alzheimer Association of British Columbia.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com

  • Colin

    I am very saddened to hear of Helen’s passing. I met her at Henderson golf course. I caught up to her and her grandson on #7. With her SO kind invitation, she invited me to play with them. She introduced herself as Helen. so I said, “Hole in ONE Helen?” and with great happiness, she said, “Yes!” so a friendship was born. I had heard about Hole in on Helen, 10 years before that, in the paper. She had been a kind of hero to me. And then to meet her by accident, and to be her friend and Dr. Such a blessing.

  • Leon & Cathy

    Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Know that you have friends who are there for you. Your mother will be forever watching over you, and will remain forever in your hearts.
    Cathy & Leon

  • Doreen and Larry Bellefeuille

    Our condolences to all my cousins and their families on your loss. Although not close, we do remember a couple of visits in Winnipeg as well as one where she entertained us in the family store in Victoria. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
    Doreen and Larry

  • Sally Hannah

    Deepest condolences to all Helen’s family.We really enjoyed her time spent with us at Arts and Alzheimer’s. We will remember her for her hats and love for Elvis.

  • Ursula

    Please, dear Angela, accept my heartfelt sincere condolences over the death of your dear Mother. Your mother was a remarkable lady with a wonderful winning personality. She will be missed by a huge number of people that loved her dearly. Thinking of you all at this very difficult and sad time. I love the pictures of her in the Times-Colonist.

    Ursula

  • Ursula

    Please, dear Angela, accept my heartfelt sincere condolences over the death of your dear Mother. Your mother was a remarkable lady with a wonderful winning personality. She will be missed by a huge number of people that loved her dearly. Thinking of you all at this very difficult and sad time. I love the pictures of her in the Times-Colonist.

  • Nola Jackson

    Our sincere condolences to Helens family.
    Helen was my mom’s roommate at Glenwarren Lodge and I know the two of them shared a few laughs.
    It was nice to know Helen and meet her family over the course of their stays.
    It warmed our hearts and brought a smile to my mom when Helen and her daughter came to sing to mom Goodnight Irene.
    Beautiful pictures of your mom in the paper.
    Sincerely Nola ( Irene Yurechko’s daughter)

  • Sepideh Mahbobi

    Please accept my sincere condolences for the passing of your beloved mother. She has now broken from this mortal cage and taken her flight to the kingdom of immortality. May she rest in peace and fly with the angels. May you feel solace remembering all the good times you had with her.
    With warm regards,
    Sepideh Mahbobi

  • Kelly MacKinnon

    Your mom sounds like a wonderful woman. My thoughts are with you and your family Angela.

  • Laura

    Deepest Condolences to your family Angela, Jennifer, Ben, Fred, Rosanne and Carolyn on the loss of your incredible mother. She is a presence that will be deeply missed in all our lives. My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult and incredibly challenging time. Laura

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