Real People/Real Stories
“Hi everyone! I am Linda Fong and joined St. Paul’s church 6 years ago. I retired to Newfoundland in 2008 from my work as a nurse in Ottawa. Most of my career was spent in various areas of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with specialty certifications in that and Group Psychotherapy. Since retirement I have mostly volunteered in the area of grief support. Since coming to this church, I have continued this work along with fund raising events. This year I agreed to Chair our M&P Committee as well. My husband, Bob and I cherish our time with our 8 grandbabies and step grandbabies ages 7 to 26. Family events are BIG with a focus on holidays and the kitchen. We also spend half of our year at the ocean on Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland. My favorite place to be is in a kitchen with others, having fun.”
– Linda –
Born on May 8, 1962, in the beautiful town of Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Deborah McGrory has spent her life making a difference in the lives of others. Her adventurous spirit and deep compassion have touched countless people, from her own family to children in need, and now, her fellow residents and staff at the Villa Care Centre.
Deb, as she’s affectionately known, is a world traveller at heart. Alongside the love of her life, John, she explored far-reaching places like Egypt, Tanzania, Scotland, Nigeria, and Cuba, creating memories rooted in culture, connection, and curiosity. Her creative side has always flourished. Deb finds joy in painting, quilting, crocheting, and cooking, expressing herself through every stitch and brushstroke.
A lifelong animal lover, especially of dogs, Deb’s nurturing nature extended far beyond her own home. While raising her own family, she opened her heart and home to dozens of foster children, offering them stability, kindness, and love when they needed it most. Her passion for helping others continues to shine brightly at the Villa Care Centre.
Every day, Deb contributes meaningfully to the community, assisting the Recreation department with program setup and cleanup, and lending a hand to the Dietary team before and after meal service. Her willingness to try new activities, her warm companionship to fellow residents, and her ever-positive attitude, accompanied by her signature smile make her a true pillar of the Villa community.
Deb’s selflessness, kindness, and joyful spirit exemplify the values of the Making a Difference Award, and we are proud to celebrate her. She reminds us all of the power of compassion, the joy in helping others, and the beauty of a life well-lived.
Congratulations, Deb, on this well-deserved honour!
– Lauren Parent, The Villa Care Centre –
I live in Huntsville and have been an active participant in St Paul’s online congregation since 2017. I am a trained lay preacher and led a summer worship service there in 2022 and in 2023. I was honoured to serve on the Search Committee last year and am currently a member of the Worship Committee that meets by Zoom.
My teaching career began as a CUSO Volunteer in Namwala, Zambia in 1967, an experience that changed me and the way I see the world in profound ways. Then for many years I was primarily a stay-at-home Mom, raising 2 daughters and a son, and doing some supply teaching. After my divorce in 1987, I returned to teaching full time at Huntsville High School. In 2000, I married David Purchase, one of my teaching colleagues, a widower with a daughter and a son. He retired that year and I followed in 2003. We have 4 grandchildren. In our retirement we have travelled all over the world, visiting 119 countries, all 50 US states and all 10 Canadian provinces. We have travelled by car, buses, trains, airplanes and cruise ships. We’ve crossed the Equator, the Arctic Circle, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and the International Dateline and rounded North Cape, Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope.
Along the way, as well as visiting people and places, we’ve met up with elephants, giraffes, rhinos , hippos, salt water crocodiles, water buffalo, baboons, Komodo dragons, kangaroos, camels, wombats, koala bears, ostriches, Tasmanian devils, lemurs, gigantic turtles, humpback whales, grizzly bear, bison, bighorn sheep, moose and elk and a wild runaway Welsh sheep who almost knocked us over. (What a wonderful world!) We’ve visited ancient ruins and modern inventions. We’ve interacted with people of many races and nationalities with many different ways of thinking and living. It has all been a great learning experience. Now as old age and various infirmities begin to slow us down, we are grateful for all the memories.
I am also very grateful for my relationship with St. Paul’s. Although being online can never match up with being there in person, you are my church family and I try to keep current on what’s happening and get as involved as I can. Blessings to all of you.
– Joanne
Hello everyone! I am going to tell you a little about myself. I started at St. Paul’s United Church in September of 2019 before the Pandemic sent us into lockdown. I had been attending Home United Church in Caledon/Brampton before I resettled in Penetanguishene. St. Andrew’s United Church in North Bay was our home while my children grew up. I was married in the United Church in Brockville, and my two children baptized in the United Church in Ottawa and North Bay. My husband’s Celebration of Life was in St. Andrew’s in 1996.
My journey started as a child in the Roman Catholic Church. As an adult my husband and I were both ordained with the Spiritual Science Fellowship, a part of the World Council of Community Churches in Montreal Quebec, where many faiths, non-faiths, scientists and spiritualists gathered in annual week long conferences. Once my husband died my affiliation with the Spiritual Science Fellowship ended.
My formal education has been a blend of science and spirituality, some at the College/University level along with courses and experiential learning. I received my Teaching Diploma in 1970, my Nursing Diploma in 1976, and then my BSc Nursing Degree in 1993. In my professional career, I was a frontline nurse, and later a manager and Director of Care. I worked as an elementary school supply teacher and worked part time with developmentally challenged school children.
I now try to balance my retirement. I play piano and I love to read. As a mother of two and grandmother of five grandsons, I try see everyone each month. They live two hours away, one group in the north and one group in the south.
– Carolyn –
Carolyn has served on the Worship Committee, the Ministry and Personnel Committee, the Refugee Committee and as of March 2025, serves as your Chairperson of the Official Board. Carolyn has worked at two psychiatric hospitals and four psychiatric units, and she was the Patient Care Coordinator in a small northern hospital, and the Director of Care of a nursing home.
Fran Hill
Have you ever taught school? “I taught Sunday School for a couple of years at St Andrew’s Presbyterian church in Bermuda.”
Do you do any hobbies/crafts? “I used to enjoy reading and sewing, but these days can’t seem to find the time. Enjoy exercise programs at Askennonia and now that I seem to have got the hang of maintaining the pool – swimming. I need to work more on the garden but sort of enjoy the wilder look which is good as there is a lot of garden.”
How many languages do you speak? “only English — the French (and Latin) learned in school is long forgotten…”
“I enjoy singing in the choir, listening to music, walking and snowshoeing with my dog and friends. I also enjoy cooking .. there is something very satisfying about creating something that looks and tastes good. Doug was the baker so that is something new for me .. I’m not big on sweet stuff but do make my own bread.”
– Fran –
Fran is a member of the Huronia Seniors Volunteer Care Team mainly as a driver for their Wheels4Wheels (20 years) transport service and she is renewing activity with Hospice Huronia as a visiting volunteer (1998-2019). Fran is a ‘tech guru’ in her own right and is a member of the Church Social Media/Tech Team. She sits on the Accessibility and Outreach Committees and also delivers Weekly Updates and provides worship services once a month at Georgian Manor, Villa Care Centre and Hillcrest.
Heather McDonald
Heather joined St. Paul’s United Church after a fabulous experience with Camp Awesome a few years ago.
As a ski coach for a kids’ Nordic ski program, Heather finds joy in helping children build confidence, resilience, and a lifelong appreciation for outdoor sports. Off the trails, Heather serves as an Advanced Practice Clinician, where she leads quality improvement projects in Specialized Geriatrics Services. Heather is an occupational therapist by background and worked for many years in Downtown Toronto including St. Michel’s Hospital. This is where she affirmed a deep passion for social justice issues and an understanding that health isn’t just about medicine, its about postal codes and policy and whether your voice gets heard.
Heather grew up in an agnostic household with a father from the Catholic Tradition and a mother raised in the United Church heyday who as adults traded church pews for quiet Sunday mornings and thoughtful conversations about belief. Heather enjoyed attending by choice St. John’s in Victoria Harbour with her maternal Grandparents. Heather considers herself especially grateful to all those who helped her develop a strong foundation of openness and respect including awesome women from this congregation who served as teachers and mentors in her life, especially the late Louise Bath and her many years of dedication to Girl Guides.
When not working or volunteering, Heather loves spending time outside with her family, especially on canoe trips where they can slow down, connect, and enjoy the natural beauty around them.
Sue Dorion
As I pull together my thoughts, I’m looking at my sunflowers beside me and thinking right now, at this moment, life is good. So where do I start on drafting a wee note about little ol’ me?!”
“Being raised in a family of five children within the walls of St. Paul’s I truly feel blessed that I had the privilege of living in a small town where our curfew was ‘street lights on hustle home.’ All five of us were baptized at once at St. Paul’s in the old chapel and my younger sister and I have wonderful memories of joining other local church youth groups for activities such as sleepovers at the church.”
“I’ve been married twice in St. Paul’s with my first husband passing suddenly at age 43 leaving me to raise our then 11 and 8.5 year old daughters with special memories of an industrious father who worked full-time, had a side business and was an avid hunter. Later I met and married Kevin who had a love of motorcycles so not to be outdone I got my licence as well along with my oldest daughter too. I took “Freedom 55” and retired after 34 years at the Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene (now Waypoint). We’ve been all over North America travelling since retirement and have enjoyed Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway. We drove across Canada twice, to the Maritimes and this year finally made the top of my bucket list trip to Newfoundland.”
“With three daughters between us we have seven grandchildren ages 16, 15, 10, 9, 6, 4 and 1 month so Christmas or birthday gatherings are loud and chaotic and I wouldn’t have it any other way! “
“I’m so proud to be a part of St. Paul’s and hope that we continue to thrive!”
– Sue –
Sue was Chair of the Official Board for three years and has become quite involved with funeral luncheon preparations, garage sales, fellowship dinners and many other events where she can lend a hand when needed. She was VP and then President of the local Big Sisters Association and had a little sister who stayed in touch with her long after she’d moved. After Covid, Sue was one of many volunteers to help restore/clean the church for our gradual return to in-person worship and stayed on to help keep it looking good as there was no caretaker for quite a while.
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Sharon Foster
“My name is Sharon Evelyn Foster, one of five girls born to Harold Albert Benson and Phyllis Rose Dorthy Benson who owned and operated Benson’s Service Centre for 35 years on Highway 12. My oldest sister Robin passed away in 1988. I have two younger sisters, and I am 10 minutes older than my twin. I have two grown children, Susanne and Stephen, three grandchildren, and three beautiful great grandchildren, Oliver, Sawyer and Theadore.”
“I was baptized in the United Church in Port McNicoll and was a member of the then Cradle Club. I attended Sunday School there until about the age of 12 when my mother thought that all our school friends attended St Paul’s and it would be nice to attend Sunday School with them.”
“I am a retired PSW and served at the Villa Care Centre for twenty-one years. Currently I have been a volunteer at the Georgian Manor in Penetanguishene and received my 10 year pin and a certificate for over 1000 volunteer hours. I Have just started volunteering at WayPoint in Penetanguishene for the long term care Church Service with Deacon Tim Dunlop on Tuesday mornings”
– Sharon –
Sharon has been singing for 60 years, and is a member of the Choir and the Bay Sound Singers. Sharon is involved with the World Day of Prayer Service Program, Out of the Cold Program, Salvation Army Kettle Campaign, and the Canadian Cancer Society as a door-to-door volunteer for the Daffodil Campaign for 35 years.
Louise Leck
“I am a proud mother of three children and seven grandchildren between the ages of 17 and 26. In past years I was also foster mother to 25 teens and later on, host mother to six foreign students from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.”
“Now a retired educator, I taught high school English and Guidance in the late 60s and 70s in Timmins; then English as a second language to Japanese Executives at Mitsubishi Midland after moving here in 1983; and finally, developed and directed a training program for Child Protection social workers and foster parents, in all Ontario CASs.”
“During the first 25 years of my life, I was immersed in United Church programs – Sunday School, summer camps, youth leadership programs, and Church music. Then I became disappointed in what the adult church had to offer and dropped out for 35 years, returning about 15 years ago to accompany my mother-in-law to church after she moved to the Villa Retirement Residence.”
“My husband and I became active in the Fellowship Club, and I joined the Official Board, serving as Vice Chair, Chair and Past Chair until retiring in February, 2025. I also chaired the M&P Committee, coordinated the Connections Groups before COVID, and led the team managing our response to COVID 19.”
“Presently I am enjoying playing the piano for our church services at the Villa and leading our current Connections Group. I am especially interested in supporting informally those caregivers who are looking after loved ones with debilitating, degenerative diseases, having experienced and survived the caregiver role for eight years.” – Louise –
Victoria Tovell
“I am an empty nester, mother of 2 amazing daughters (Caitlin and Krys) and have started on a life journey with Michael, my high school sweetheart.”
“I am a soul searcher and an artist and my life is better than it has ever been, and I am grateful. I am a mental health advocate, peer support person, home care provider, and pride supporter. My values are curiosity, compassion and creativity and I believe that we all have the ability to make a difference whether we see it or not.” – Victoria –
Victoria offers seniors homecare, creates and sells one of a kind paper crafts and facilitates art programs at the Wendat Social Club. Victoria is in the St. Paul’s Choir, shops for the UCW, chairs the Faith Formation committee, and has also recently attended the 100th Anniversary Festival of Faith.
Lenore Price
Gail Wilcox
“I was born and raised in Midland and baptized at St. Paul’s when I was 5 months old and have never left. My mom raised four children on her own after we lost our father in a tragic accident. She was the best, and I had lots of love and encouragement to become who I am today. My twin and I are the youngest, and I think we all turned out pretty well. My mom always taught us to be kind and to help others.”
“St. Paul’s will always hold a special place in my heart” “I started singing in the junior choir at the age of 10, and on to the senior choir at the age of 16, and I am still singing today. I taught the Young Girls Explorers Program for 10 years and then became chair of the Centennial Committee for St. Paul’s 100th birthday. The Centennial Committee evolved into ‘The Circle’ and I was it’s Chair for 15 years.”
I am now a member of the UCW (United Church Women) and I really enjoy working with these incredible ladies. Whether it be working the funerals and garage sales, running the coffee hour or making the pies and cookies, these ladies get it done.
Joan Whitman
“I have enjoyed my time at St Paul’s over the last 9 months. I have volunteered to decorate the church at Christmas and for hot chocolate at the Santa Claus parade. Most recently I volunteered for Kirsty’s covenanting service. I have also become a member of the Mission & Service team.”
“I joined St Paul’s from Knox Presbyterian. My daughter Elissa Turner, her Mother-in-law, Marilyn Turner, moved churches for Discovery Kids. Abigail and Isobel enjoy Discovery Kids a lot.”
“I am a very active person with swimming, cycling and running my favourite activities. Later this summer Elissa and I will complete our 28th Annual Triathlon together. We started when she was 10!”
“I love to cook!”
Using Your Talent - Barb Carswell
Barb Carswell from St Paul’s Church, on the left in this picture, more pictures on the website Gallery page. Barb joined Broken Earth St John’s, Newfoundland in April for a surgical mission trip to Antigua, Guatemala. It is not Barb’s first such trip.
The volunteer group of nurses and doctors repaired cleft lips and palates for about 20 children, mostly under 3 years of age.
The weather was very pleasant, which was good for walking to work each day.
Thank you Barb, Jesus is working through you.
Stewardship-Pat File's Story
My name is Patricia File and I am a member of the Stewardship Committee at St. Paul’s United Church. For those of you who get the online or email newsletter, you may recall that there was a paragraph recently describing the Pre–Authorized Remittance program (PAR) and how to enroll if you wish. I am here to tell you a story about my involvement with PAR, in the hopes of inspiring you to become involved too and to deepen your involvement with St. Paul’s.
I got involved some years back now – because I was “invited”. There was an announcement on the wall when we would first come into church that said they were seeking ten new PAR members. It was there for a few weeks and I thought maybe I could become one of those ten. At that time, I had been coming to church for a few years, I usually sat in the balcony and I came most weeks. I would bring a cheque for my offering for an amount that I thought I could contribute on a weekly basis. It was an exchange – I received the benefit of an inspiring service and sermon and choral music and fellowship and in return I gave a cheque to the church. But if I missed a Sunday, I didn’t double up my cheque the following week – as I wasn’t there.
When I signed up for the PAR program, I knew that a certain amount would now come out for every week, whether I came to church or not. I was ready to make that commitment. It was easy – I went into the office at the time and gave a void cheque to Judy and specified a monthly allocation for so much towards St. Paul’s for its work and so much for Mission and Service. At first, I noticed a nice change as I was no longer rushing around on Sunday morning looking for my cheque book and running into church late. I am often last minute as some of you may know. Since this was one of the only cheques I still wrote, I haven’t had to re–order cheques now for years. At the end of the year, I got a nice letter from the church with my receipt for my annual donation. It was all very convenient. It was very nice.
But over time, I came to realize that a much more important change was happening in my relationship to St. Paul’s. I began to deepen my connection to the church as I realized that in making the PAR commitment to St. Paul’s, I had made a more formal choice for it to be one of my key organizations to donate to on an annual basis. They could count on me – now and into the future.
I began to be more involved in the work of the church. I used to see some of the members names and faces on various committees and I admired their dedication but I wasn’t sure I wanted to get involved in that capacity. But when we were challenged to think about how we could Elevate Accessibility, I thought I could step up and join that committee as this was
something important to me. I had made a commitment to St. Paul’s when I signed up for the PAR program after all – so they could count on me. I got to be involved with the most wonderful group of people and it was such a joyful experience to see our church accomplish the fundraising for that project and the decisions to get to the final renovations being completed. After that, I got involved in other committees and endeavours with St. Paul’s and had the same joyful experiences. Many of you were involved too as we helped host the Toronto Conference, did accessibility training for dozens of church members, did Faith Formation activities for the children and youth as well as other programs and activities. I get so much more out of my increased involvement and faith journey with St. Paul’s – I feel blessed.
During this pandemic, I came to understand how important the PAR program has been, as we no longer had the weekly services for people to be here in person to put their offering into the plate of cash or cheques or envelopes. Although my income went down, I kept to my monthly amount as I knew that I could manage it and I knew that St. Paul’s was counting on me – because I had made that commitment.
The continuation of the services online has been a small miracle to me. Karen, Victoria, Glen and the Tech Team have been able to produce such inspiring services for us to watch on YouTube and this kept me going many times during these last few years. And more than ever, I came to understand that the work of the church is more than the Sunday service – as Karen provides pastoral spiritual guidance and support to families for new births, weddings, funerals as well as the many other needs for families in our community. All the of the other committees and groups involved with the church continued even during the pandemic.
The donations from all of you have helped to keep that all happening. The PAR program helps provide a foundation for the church to continue its work day–to–day and week–to–week and to budget for the future year. We then build on that work and that foundation for special and extra needs as we continue to help meet the needs of others in our community and around the world through the work of our Refugee Committee, the fall Foodgrains Campaign, the Guesthouse and others.
The stronger our foundation – the more we can do. It is a vision for abundance! As our gardens and new life come forth again this spring, I think of the PAR program like the bulbs and perennials in the garden – something that comes up every year that you can count on. Or perhaps it is more like a juniper bush that gives some greenery through the whole year – in
winter and in summer.
Everyone chooses to give how and when they are able to. As a member of the Stewardship Committee, we certainly appreciate the large and small annual donations that come from time to time and all the smaller weekly ones that add up. They all make our church garden flourish and thrive.
We are inviting you to please consider the PAR program and to deepen and elevate your commitment to St. Paul’s in participating in the work of the church and to find your place in our garden. It is easy to do – just call Louise at the church office and she will tell you how.
2022
Roots & Wings
A strong woman believes that she’s strong enough to face her journey, but a woman of strength has FAITH that it is in this journey that she will become strong… (anonymous)
Zena (Mylopoulos) Pendelbury,
Zena was born in Athens and raised in Filothei, a suburb of Athens, Greece. Her mother’s family (Karnemidis) was forced to leave their home in Pontos, Turkey, in 1922 when Turkey exiled all Greeks from the country. Her father’s family (Mylopoulos) came from Sohum, Russia. They left Russia in 1917 after the Russian revolution. Zena’s parents Paul and Ioanna met and married in Athens during the German occupation of Greece in 1942. Paul had a successful business exporting goods from Greece, mainly tobacco and lumber; he travelled to Egypt, Lebanon, and Czechoslovakia frequently.
As Zena reflects on her family history she is very aware that she comes from a history of exile and what it’s like to be a refugee.
Zena was baptized in Ste. Filothei Greek Orthodox Church and attended elementary and high school in Filothei. These were tough times for young people in Greece when Zena was a young woman, Greece was under a dictatorship rule. Being young and of an inquiring mind she came to Canada as a foreign student to the University of Toronto where she studied Sociology and French. Her brother was already in Canada and was a professor at the UofT which was a support to Zena.
One night Zena’s colleagues in residence insisted that Zena go to the bar with them. This was not her normal evening’s entertainment but she went. A group of hockey players came in on their way home from a game. They were an unsightly group of young men, battered and beaten up after a rough game but there was one in particular that caught her eye. He looked the ‘best’ of the lot. He must have noticed this young woman as well. They talked into the wee hours of the morning. That was the beginning of their life-long friendship and love. When Zena found out Cliff was a seminary student that was cause to ponder but not for long. Their common passions for justice and education and making the world a better place overcame any differences.
Cliff was sent to Manitoba after his ordination. That didn’t dampen their growing relationship. Zena worked at becoming a ‘minister’s wife’. She says she was a ‘reluctant minister’s wife’ but she had a very understanding partner and she always was there for her husband in his chosen calling and her children who were growing in their spiritual practices. All the while she worked for the Ontario Government except for six years when her family was very young.
Oh, there’s a piece missing in the last paragraph. Cliff was ordained in 1975 in St. Paul’s United Church in Midland. Little did they know that they would end up in ministry here eighteen years later!
Zena admits there has been much adapting and challenge in her life. Being raised in a very mystical yet closed faith background, the openness was what attracted her to Canada and the United Church. “I believe in evolving”, Zena explains.
“I must be engaged,” says Zena, “in the environment, education, transportation, non-partisan politics, kids and my Church. My faith is important and especially my friends at St. Paul’s and in the community.
On May 27 and 28, Toronto Conference of the United Church of Canada is planning its AGM in Midland where eight people will be ordained and commissioned in St. Paul’s United Church, forty one years after Cliff Pendlebury was ordained in St. Paul’s. There will be 400 plus delegates plus visitors at this event. This is the first time St. Paul’s has hosted this very ambitious venture for many, many years, but was a dream of Cliff before he died.
Zena is coordinator of the Local Arrangements for this Annual event. Most of the proceedings will be held in the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre except for the Celebration of Ministries service in St. Paul’s on Saturday, May 28 at 6:00 p.m. where over 600 will be in attendance. The choir alone will be about 75 voices under the leadership of St. Paul’s Director of Music, Victoria Warwick.
The St. Paul’s organizing team has been working on this event in concert with the staff and volunteers of Toronto Conference for over a year. Over one hundred volunteers have stepped up to assist in hosting. This has been a massive undertaking for St. Paul’s congregation. We can credit the leadership and excellent response in making this event a resounding success.
Hospitality
Committed, humble, hard working, unselfish, faith-filled, spirit-filled woman: that’s how we profile this special woman!
Added to these attributes, Helen French has an uncanny sense of humour followed by that little mischievous twinkle in her eye.
She was born in Victoria Harbour to Netta and Douglas Robertson. Douglas was a Bernardo boy. She was the only girl with two brothers in her family. She grew up in Victoria Harbour, attended Victoria Harbour Public School, completing grades 9 and 10. After her formative education, she attended Midland Business College.
The United Church has been Helen’s passion all of her life. She was baptised in St. John’s United Church in Victoria Harbour, attended Mission Band, Sunday School, Canadian Girls In Training, and Young People’s Union. The Church shaped her young life and instilled in her the values that have guided her and sustained her all her life.
Helen was married in the St. Paul’s parsonage and in the 1950’s became involved in St. Paul’s United Church. Helen remembers a person who was quite influential in her life, Margeurite Parker. Margeurite asked Helen to teach Sunday School. That was the beginning of her very active life in St. Paul’s: Sunday School teacher, superintendent of Sunday School, Mission Band teacher, Church Board, Women’s Missionary Society followed by United Church Women, served on the UCW Executive and has served as coordinator of Celebration of Life receptions as well as the coordination of bazaars. Helen enjoyed all the things she’s been involved in but “spare me from being secretary, I don’t like doing that!”
Helen remembers the very formal Teas hosted by the Women’s groups. She reflected on getting the highly polished silver tea services out. The older women donned their elegant attire and poured tea into the finest china. Of course the sandwiches and dainties were crafted for their exquisite taste and presentation.
Helen doesn’t have a computer and wants to keep it that way. She says she’s not as involved as she used to be. Those who know her beg to differ, she’s still very active and is a role model for many.
This special woman in her humility doesn’t wish to brag. We’ll do that for her. Her life of volunteering was recognized in receiving two Jubilee Medals as a volunteer for the Cancer Society. If we were into presenting medals for her life in the Church, Helen would be the recipient of many medals.
Helen is still active in UCW and making sandwiches for Celebration of Lives refreshments. She still volunteers at the Hospital coffee bar and takes an active part in the many United Church Women activities.
Helen feels so blest: she has a good neighbours and a circle of wonderful friends. She still enjoys baking. Helen’s eyes light up when she speaks of her family: her daughter Kay (and Bob), seven grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and 2 foster boys in Saskatchewan.
When Helen was asked about her grandchildren and how much wisdom she must impart, she replied, “the grandkids aren’t that interested in my wisdom but they look forward to the cookies!”
Oh, another little tidbit about Helen, she celebrated a milestone birthday a few weeks ago. It’s not up to us to reveal her vintage. Henry Ford once said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” What we can say is, Helen hasn’t stopped learning and she keeps her mind young.
St. Paul’s is honoured and blest to have Helen French in our faith family.