Helen (MacKay) MacLachlan
Passed in: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Passed on: May 17th, 2012
Passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 17, 2012, at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto in her 85th year.
Helen spent her entire adult life, including her final days, surrounded by her adoring family.
Beloved wife of James ‘Jimmie’ for over 61 years and loving mother of Catherine (Ken Smith), Stephen (Janet Lee), Stanley (Viivi Rita Piil) and Linda (B.J. McKeever). Cherished grandmother of Christena (Jamie Manley), Ian (Anna Wang), Duncan (Kathryn Exon Smith), Colin, Stuart, Sandy (Drew Marshall), Jillian, James, Sarah, Alec, Joseph, Mary Siobhan and Matti; great-grandmother of Gwyneth. Helen is survived by her sister, Anne Williams of Ottawa and her brother, Duncan MacKay of Wiarton, Ontario.
She was predeceased by her parents, Alexander and Christena MacKay (nee MacRae) and siblings Hazel, Violet, Dolena, John, William, Hector, Katherine and Alec.
Born in St. George's Channel, Cape Breton Island in the summer of 1927, life's journey took Helen to Halifax at the age of 17, and to Toronto, where after marriage at the age of 23, she and Jimmie, another proud Cape Bretoner, raised their family in East York.
Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in Jan. 2011, Helen enjoyed 17 more happy months with her family, thanks to the expertise and tender devotion of Dr. Lisa Hicks, her medical daycare team and the staff of 2Queen South at St. Michael's Hospital.
Cremation and a private family service have been held. Helen's ashes will return to St. George's Channel, Cape Breton Island later this summer to be laid to rest in the MacKay Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the charity of your choice, The St. Michael's Hospital Foundation (30 Bond St., Toronto, M5B 1W8), or The MacKay Cemetery Association (3632 West Bay Highway, R.R. #2, West Bay, N.S., B0E 3K0).
