Helen Annis

Only 18 hours before, she was basking in the sunlight and the attention of infants, toddlers, nieces and nephews at a large family gathering. And then she was gone.

Helen Celine Annis, 94, died suddenly the next morning, July 17, at her home in the Delmanor Prince Edward retirement residence, where she had lost her husband of 71 years, Charles, a year and a half before.
After his passing, Helen loved to reminisce about sleeping on the porch under blankets and snow at the too-crowded little house in Thistletown, cross-country skiing along the frozen Humber River into Weston for groceries and, much later, winning poker hands in games with her sons’ friends.
Helen also regaled us with tales of her adventures working the switchboard at Humber Memorial Hospital and her European travels with Chuck.

She wouldn’t engage in any remembrance of a certain leather slipper used on wayward sons. But she didn’t deny it either. The last of her generation in the family, Helen made it clear after losing Charles that she was ready to go too. Unless a day trip or party was in the offing.
Special thanks to the staff at Delmanor for easing her passing and the Williams family for the grand finale the day before.

Helen (nee Chantrey), born Feb 4, 1929, leaveschildren Tom (Lynne), David (Patricia), Bob (Teri) and Mary (Bruce). Helen was predeceased by husband Charles and sons Andrew and Gerald. She also leaves grandchildren Adam, Julia, Lauren, Erin, Andrew, Daniel, Jeremy, Michael, Jennifer and John and great-grandchildren Jayden, Madison, Araya and Aurora.

In lieu of flowers, please support St. Francis Table at www.capuchinoutreach.org