Helen was born in Port Arthur, Ontario to Andrew & Pauline Kurchina. She was brought up with love and kindness and knew the importance of hard work and family values.
Helen was the caregiver, the one people went to for comfort and advice. She was the glue that kept the family together and we will feel lost without her.
Her early years were spent working the family gardens on Belrose Road and later as a registered nurse with experience at the Nipigon Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, Bethami Nursing Home and McKellar Hospital.
John and Helen both met as children at the age of 5 at a get-together in 1948 when John and his sister, Anna, arrived in Canada from Slovakia. Helen graduated from Port Arthur Collegiate and then took her nursing training at St. Joseph's School of Nursing. At graduation she asked John to accompany her to the dance and this marked the beginning of their future together.
In 1966 they married and moved to Cameron Falls, north of Nipigon. A year later they started their own family with the birth of Jennifer, followed by Tanya and then Christopher. Family was always her priority. She was the mom who came to the classrooms to help out, the aunt who would babysit 7 nieces and nephews at a time, the sister who would sit by her sibling's sides in their time of need, and the daughter who would dote on her parents. She was also always the friend available to get into mischief with her besties.
Her greatest joy in life was being Grammy and she was adored by her 6 grandchildren. She once said "you think you love your children but then along comes the grandchildren and somehow you love them even more". Her legacy was this great love.
Helen passed away on July 16, 2023 cradled in the arms of her family. Her journey with pancreatic cancer ended and her suffering was relieved. She has returned to her Lord and Saviour with her unwavering faith in God.
Helen is survived by her husband John and their children Jennifer (Brent) McPhail,Tanya (Trevor) Spivak, and Christopher (Kirsti) Alaksa. She is also survived by her grandchildren Derek McPhail, Kristiann McPhail, Ryan (Alisha) Osadec, Katelyn (Hartley Mendelsohn) Osadec, Emma Alaksa, Samantha Alaksa and great grandchild Kinsley Osadec, sister Kristine (Joe) Renda and best friend Betty Shubaly. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
Helen was predeceased by her parents Andrew and Pauline Kurchina, sister Pauline Hinterbrandner, brother Emil Kurchina, sister Mary Migay, sisters-in-law Anne Cimprich and Shirley Kurchina, brothers-in-law Frank Cimprich and Rudy Migay and Son-in-law Tom Osadec.
Funeral Service will be held on Friday July 21, 2023 at 11am when family and friends will gather at St. Peter's Church for the funeral mass celebrated by Father Randall. All services will be complete in the church. Thank you to all of the people who helped Helen and her family through this difficult time.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Helen's memory to the TBRHSC Northern Cancer Fund or Charity of Your Choice.
