It is with great sadness that Helen Dickson's family announces her passing on November 15, 2010 at the age of 87.

Helen was born in Kamloops in October 1923. She was the daughter of Dr. H.L. and Robina Burris. She attended Stuart Wood Elementary School and St. Ann's Academy, and played the violin in the Kamloops school orchestra organized by Mr. McMurdo. After high school, Helen moved to Vancouver and worked for a year at Boeing Aircraft as part of the War Effort, then went on to become a Registered Nurse, graduating with the Royal Columbian Hospital Class of 1947. She worked at a number of hospitals, including Royal Inland in Kamloops.
In 1950, she married Roger Dickson, an RCAF veteran from Vernon, and a year later, when Roger began working for the Indian Affairs Branch of the federal government, they moved to Lytton. They spent seven years there, and during that time welcomed three sons, Bruce, Doug and Ross. Helen gave up her career in nursing to put her heart into the task of looking after them. From Lytton, the family moved to Williams Lake, and then in 1964, to Alberta - Edmonton, Lethbridge, and Calgary.

In 1981, Roger and Helen moved back to British Columbia, to Knutsford, a community they came to know and love well. There, they have been surrounded by extraordinary friends and neighbours, whose thoughtfulness, caring and fellowship were and are treasured. Helen was a proud member of the Knutsford Ladies S & B Group.

At each step along the way, Helen found and kept wonderful friends, who responded to her great kindness, generous spirit and empathy - qualities she also recognized in them. One of her most remarkable attributes was her completely genuine nature, something which by all accounts she inherited. Helen had many passions cooking, baking, reading, gardening, her dogs, attending plays and the symphony at Sagebrush Theatre, and always the cabin at Shuswap Lake, but she loved and valued her family and friends above all.

She loved having friends drop by for a visit, and was always interested in finding out what was happening in the community and in the lives of those many, many people she cared about. Over the last twenty years, Helen suffered a series of health problems, all borne with her characteristic courage, determination and endless good cheer. Her bright smile lasted until the very end, and gave her family great comfort.
Helen is survived by her loving and beloved husband Roger; her sons, Bruce (and wife Connie) of Kelowna, Doug (and wife Wendy) of Kamloops, and Ross of Calgary. She also leaves her cherished grandchildren, Fraser, Jordana, Michael, Courtney and Jenelle.
She is also survived by her brother, Dr. Stewart Burris (and wife Jean), her sisters Joan Churchill and Elspeth Lindsay, and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her brother John, and two of her nephews, John Churchill and John Burris.

The family would like to thank Dr. Jim Mabee for his many years of care and attention, and Dr. Francois Malan (and Judy) for their sterling efforts over the past several months. We are also thankful for the devoted care given by the staff of Royal Inland Hospital (6 North) and Ponderosa Lodge.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
If friends wish, a donation to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation in Helen's memory would be appreciated.
Also, messages of condolence may be sent to www.schoenings.com