November 15, 1924 - March 16, 2025
Remembering a life fully lived
Born on November 15, 1924, in Rife, Alberta to Marafta and Wasyl Apostoluk; Helen was one of 9 girls and 4 boys. She worked in St. Paul's Hospital in St. Paul, Alberta with the Gray Nuns to become a Nurse. Delivering babies, assisting in the operating room, providing care to whoever was admitted. Helen was a good, smart worker and advanced quickly.
In 1946, British Columbia fruit farmers advertised for berry pickers in the Fraser Valley. Helen, along with a few others arrived at the Matsqui Train Station. Helen was designated to work at the farm of Elizabeth McTaggart and son, J.A. (Del) McTaggart. After berry season, Helen went to work at the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster and maintained the relationship with Del who later became her husband on October 25, 1947. Together they had six children: Bruce, Garth, Rodney, Robyn, Sharon, and Tracie. Helen continued to work at the old Cottage Hospital and later having her own private nursing home for sixteen years, McMillan Rest Home. It was common to hear Helen say, "I looked after their mother/father". Helen had beautiful gardens - especially the rockeries. "Plant a seed in faith and reap it in love," she said.
Helen canned up to nine hundred jars of preserves in one season. She fed hundreds of visitors, relatives, and patients. The yard was clean right up to the road with her trusty broom. When the private care of up to five patients 24/7, was becoming too much and Menno Home called for her to employ there, she settled into nursing and then Cleaning Supervisor. Those high ceilings and lights got cleaned!
Upon retirement, Helen went on to enjoy travelling, golfing, seminars, music, and having coffee and pie. Moving to Cascade Court was good. It was lonely at times but she was safe, loved and enjoyed watching the activities from her windows. She always said she was in a good place.
Helen baked bread up until she was ninety-one. She never baked anything without sharing it. She lived by the motto of, "be kind and love each other".
November, 2024, Helen reached her one hundred-year milestone, surpassing her 73 cousins in the achievement. On March 16, 2025, Helen left this earth to watch us from above. Although there is no service, by Helen's request, we celebrate a life fully lived. In her words, "It was time for me to go. God bless."