On October 15, 2011, Helen Maud Pratt (nee Benson) passed away at the age of 84.

She is survived by Bill, her husband of 58 years, her six children, Ira (Sue), Terry (Alan), Marna (Gordon), Lance, Lisa (Greg), and Rand, five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, sister Wreatha Dalton, and brother Dean Benson.

Helen was born in New Westminster, spent her childhood in Pavilion, her teenage years in Cloverdale and moved to Kamloops in 1952. She completed her nursing degree at St. Paul's and was a registered nurse at the Royal Inland Hospital and the cancer clinic in Kamloops for many years.

While passionate about quilting, knitting, and crafting, Helen's true love was art of all mediums. Helen painted in oils and on porcelain, and shared her talent with others by instructing painting classes for a number of years. Her other passion in life was nature and she often captured its beauty in her paintings. Helen was very active with Girl Guides for many years, which provided her with the opportunity to teach young women leadership skills and an appreciation of the arts and the outdoors. Helen had a very giving nature and she gave back to the community of Kamloops through her involvement in the Kinette Club. She always opened her home to those who needed it, including many a stray cat.

Her sense of fun, humour and outgoing personality will be greatly missed. She always had a smile for others and loved to play practical jokes - a legacy which lives on in her children. You could often find Helen outside tending her ever-evolving flower gardens or reading a book into the wee hours of the morning.

A Celebration of Helen's life will be held on Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the Schoening Funeral Chapel, 513 Seymour Street, Kamloops.

Condolences may be expressed at www.schoenings.com

Should friends desire, donations to the Alzheimer's Society of B.C., Box 277, Kamloops, B.C., V2C 5K6 or Pine Grove Resident Society, 313 McGowan Avenue, Kamloops, B.C., V2B 2N8 would be appreciated in her memory.