Helen DERKSEN

Helen Vincent March 29, 1923 - May 15, 2005 Funeral arrangements by Chapel Lawn Funeral Home It is with utmost sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother on May 15, 2005. Helen was born March 29, 1923 to Isaac and Helene Derksen in Neuendorf, Russia and came to Canada via Mexico in 1926. She grew up in Fusilier and Bournemouth, Saskatchewan, moving to Winnipeg in 1942. She worked at the Royal Bank for ten years. Helen married Lester Vincent in 1950, and together they ran X-L Refrigeration for many years, Helen answering the phone, bookkeeping and raising four children. Her house was filled with animals, and always had a dog and a budgie, plus rabbits, finches, gerbils, mice, cats, rats, fish and even a crow. The neighbourhood children envied us as living in the house with the rabbit and the apple tree. Helen had a great faith in God, and belonged to Bethel Mennonite Church, where she worked in the Sunday School for fifty years as a teacher and a coordinator. She loved all the children and missed seeing their smiling faces during her illness. Left to cherish her memory are her children Pat (Phil), Wendy (Jim), James (Renate) and Ina (Weldon), grandchildren Tim, Tyler, Nicole, Caitlin, James, Neil, Rachel and Nathaniel, sisters Anne (Bill Easton) and Elvira (Frank Letkeman), sister-in-law Lil Derksen, dear friends Anne Giesbrecht and Mary Thiessen, and many nieces and nephews. Helen was predeceased by her husband Lester, and her brothers Peter and Isaac. Pallbearers will be Tim Tynes, Tyler Tynes, James McGugan, Gary Letkeman, Phil Tynes, Jim McGugan. Honourary pallbearer Nathaniel Hiebert. Funeral services will be held at Bethel Mennonite Church, 870 Carter Ave. on May 20 at 10:30 a.m. Interment at Chapel Lawn Cemetery, 4000 Portage Ave., followed by a reception back at the church. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Riverview Health Centre (Ward 3E) for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Mennonite Central Committee or the Winnipeg Humane Society.