HELEN WIEBE

With heavy hearts and gratitude for her long and loving presence in our lives, we announce that our mother Helen Wiebe passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on June 25, 2025 in the Health Sciences Centre. She took her leave after she spent two lovely days with her daughters at her bedside, laughing and joking with nurses and doctors, without pain or distress.

Helen was predeceased by her husband of 42 years, Peter, and her son Randy. She leaves her daughters Sherry, Jacqueline (Saf), daughter-in-law Karen and grandchildren Bryn (Zac) and Burke (Emily). Helen also leaves brother Herb Driedger. Her parents Jacob and Anna (Martens) Driedger, and siblings Jake, Annie, John, twin Peter, Margaret and Tina also predeceased Helen.

Helen was devoted to her family, including her extended family of her parents and siblings and her husband’s family. She raised her children while working part-time outside the home, but never missed a game, concert, event or recital in which her children participated. Each child was favoured with their preferred foods, and they plus their friends often got special treats.

Helen continued to be helpful to her children as adults. When Randy and Karen needed her help at the house, Helen was there. She was “Granny” to Bryn and Burke, and ferried them to school, swimming, golf and any destination requested, whenever requested---even if that location was unfamiliar and took Granny out of her comfort zone. Nothing deterred her from her grandparenting duties. Helen was Jacquie’s companion on many trips and was always available to help with a home task. She travelled to Vancouver at age 86 to provide food and rehab support for Sherry’s post-op recovery---even driving a big SUV through Vancouver’s convoluted streets.

Helen’s commitment to her nuclear family did not prevent her from assisting her mother-in-law while living in Altona. She integrated seamlessly into the extended Wiebe clan. They worked together and supported each other in good times and in tragedy. She and Pete travelled with Pete’s brothers Bernie and Dave to locations in Europe, South America and Asia. Pete and Helen also travelled all over Canada and the USA to visit relatives and golf along the way. Helen travelled on her own and with friends on a cruise ship on the West Coast, a train to Churchill, a bus to Branson, Missouri for country music, and a plane that was redirected to a days-long unscheduled stop in Toronto during the 9/11 World Trade Centre tragedy.

Helen was deeply devoted to her mother, and her brothers and sisters. She became formal and informal guardian to several of her nieces and nephews. For most of her life, she was a surrogate mother and special aunt to the children of her siblings. One of Helen’s greatest joys in life was spending time with Margaret, Tina and twin Peter, with whom she had a special bond. After they were admitted to the Manitoba Development Centre in Portage la Prairie, Helen became their advocate, substitute decision-maker and liaison with the Public Guardian and Trustee of Manitoba. She immeasurably improved their lives by advocating to have them live in homes in the community. Helen also cared for her parents, which was especially challenging when Helen lived in Winnipeg and her mother in Altona developed Alzheimer’s disease.

Helen’s faith and her church were at the centre of her life. She was a proud member of the Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship where she made lifelong friendships with many fellow congregants. Together they had fellowship, made food, and served the less fortunate as well as the larger community. Volunteerism was a core value of Helen’s. Whether it was at MTC, Bethel Place (20+ years), Welcome Wagon, The Women’s Institute (Altona), organizations for the developmentally delayed, community sports events (golf, curling) or church-sponsored activities, to name a few, Helen contributed in a meaningful way.

Helen was a talented and natural athlete. Her favourite sports were curling and golf. She curled in a league until she was 88. Her team’s 7-ender in her last year of play was a particular point of pride. Helen had a golf swing that drew looks of admiration and envy when she and Pete golfed at the innumerable courses they found on their travels. She was also highly competitive and delighted when she beat both Randy and Pete in a round of golf. Helen was a frequent winner in every competition she entered. An avid fan, Helen attended many Scotties’ Curling Championships and eagerly cheered all the competitors, but none more than Jennifer Jones.

Helen loved horses and regaled her family with stories about horseback riding on the family farm. Only she was allowed to ride Dave and Caper, the farm work horses. She told stories of having to ride bareback, and Dave letting her ride him and then dip to slide her off his back so she would not get hurt.

Helen was fiercely independent and took pride in learning to manage her finances and live fully and eventfully after Pete’s death. She encouraged and taught friends to drive and maintained her own driving skills long into her life. Helen was political and curious, traits she instilled in her children and nurtured throughout her own life.

Helen also had a great sense of humour, a ready smile and hug, a quick retort. In the last hours of her life, the surgeon who repaired her hip introduced himself. She shook his hand and congratulated him on a job well done. Then she asked him if he was married. Who’s asking, he replied. Her final comment was: Don’t worry about me. I don’t want to get married.

A celebration of her life will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 150 Bayridge Avenue in Winnipeg (Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship). The funeral will be livestreamed at: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/158787495. Donations in Helen’s honour can be made to Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.

Helen’s family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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