Passed away in the presence of loving family on March 16, 2015 at the Victoria Hospice.
Predeceased by her first husband, Peter Alan Feltham; sister, Hana; parents, Jiri and Julia; nephews, Adamec and Steven; niece Kenzie and sister-in-law Susan. Helen is survived by her second husband, Carol Joseph Lavoie; sister, Markyta (Ferdinand); sisters and brother-in-law, Janie (Richard), Annie, Mark and Jenny; children Karen, Rosemary, Suzanne, Paul and Claire; children-in-law, Lindsay, Pierre, Raymond and Aundrea; grandchildren, Simon (Sasha), Christine, Daniel, Alyssa, Miriam, Amanda, Madeleine, Nicholas and Bobby; great-grandchildren Kayla and Kieran and many nieces, nephews and precious friends.
Born in Rokycany Czechoslovakia on December 13, 1935, Helen came to Canada in 1948. She met Peter in 1955 and together they raised their family in Abbotsford and Comox. After Peter’s death in 1998, she came to Victoria where she met Carol in 2004 and married in 2009. Beautiful, gracious and ever living life to the fullest, Helen was generous with the energy she gave to her family and community until the very last days of her life. Thank you, Helen, for all the love you have given us.
A vigil will be held at McCall’s Funeral Home from 6:30 – 8:30 pm on Friday March 20th, followed by a funeral and reception at l’Eglise St. Jean Baptiste, 311 Richmond Avenue, Victoria, BC at 11 am on Saturday March 21st. Burial will take place at the Courtenay Civic Cemetery at 6 pm of the same day.
Flowers will be appreciated as are donations to the Victoria Hospice or the Intercultural Association of Greater Victoria.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
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Rosemary
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Christine La Salle André extends his sincere condolences to all the Feltham family as well. Take care! Our thoughts are with you!
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Christine La Salle Dear Rose-Marie, Pierre, Simon, Daniel, Myriam, Karen, Christine, Suzie, her daughter, Claire and her son,
My deepest sympathies over the passing away of your lovely and loving mother and grandmother. She had a radiant smile and I was moved by her charismatic presence when I met her at your wedding Rose-Marie and Pierre. I recognized in her a very attaching and beautiful person.
My sincere condolence to all of you and to all other members of the Feltham family and to her friends.
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celine lecours-laflamme En effet, c’et toujours triste de voir partir les gens qu’on aime. J’ai eu le privilège, un court instant de croiser la maman de RoseMary, femme charmante, élégante, et heureuse malgré la maladie qui la rongeait.
Toutes mes condoléances à Pierre et sa jolie épouse.
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Mary Goodspeed My sincere sympathy to Carol and Helen’s family. She was a very special lady. We met when we were volunteering at Abkhazi Garden, which is where Helen introduced me to Carol. Her lovely style and elegance were all the more wonderful for being so natural. I am so sorry I will not hear her wonderful laugh again.
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Diane & Peter Dear Carol and Family,
We are so very saddened to learn of Helen’s passing. Please except our deepest sympathies.
Helen was such a Special Lady and had a beautiful smile. We met Helen and her Family when we first moved to Comox in 1997. We were very honoured, happy and pleased to meet Carol and to be invited to their Lovely Wedding – such a wonderful Day, filled with so much Love. Helen will be missed by all who knew her. Our thoughts are with you.
With Love, Diane and Peter
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Dr. John McCann and Staff It was with great sadness that we learned of Helen’s passing. Please accept our heartfelt condolences, Helen was a wonderful woman. My Staff and I will miss her positive attitude and infectious smile.
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Miranda Sage Dear Carol and family,
My love to you!! Helen was special beyond belief and I will always treasure her beautiful energy, intelligence and smile. Our thoughts are with you.
love,
Miranda and Brad
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Al & Deb Furlong Carol and family.
It was with deep sadness that we read about Helen passing and please accept our condolences. I sincerely enjoyed meeting Helen and getting to know her a little bit. Her genuine happiness, energy and love for everyone is truly special and will live on in our memory of her. I am glad our lives crossed paths, even if it was briefly. Knowing Helen is something I consider a blessing in my life and I am sure I speak for everyone she met.
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Maureen Smith Claire and family,
It has been many years since Abbotsford, but as I read your mom’s obituary I was flooded with wonderful memories of such a kind and loving woman. My condolonces to you and your family.
Maureen (McGowan) Smith
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Johanne Proulx Dear Rosemary and family,
My thoughts are with you on this difficult day. I will remember your mom as a very loving, and giving woman who always took the time to be interested in people and living creatures around her. Her smile and kind manners showed her love of life at all times. I will also remember how proud and happy she looked walking you down the aisle. What precious memories you have!
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Dorothy Carter I met Helen a few years ago through her husband Carol. It was a pleasure to know Helen. She always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. Anytime we met she always stopped for a chat. Helen was a kind, sincere lady and will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Carol and family my prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Dorothy Carter
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Jack and Margaret Loughlin We thoroughly enjoyed the entire Feltham family during their Abbotsford days and are much saddened by Helen’s passing. We offer our heartfelt condolences to all of you,
Jack and Marg Loughlin
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Sylvie, Marc , Dominique et Steffie Lauzon To Rosemary and Family,
We share the pain the lost of a loved one can represent and want to offer you and your family our most sincere sympathy and deepest condolences.
Sylvie, Marc Dominique et Steffie Lauzon
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Carmen Martine To: Rosemay and family,
So sad to learn of Helene’s passing as I know that you had a very special bond with you motherr. I had the privilege to meet her at Simon’s wedding and I will always remember the very elegant and kind spirited your mother was. A very special person who will be missed by many specially her loving family. On behalf of my family please accept my deepest condolences during these difficult times.
Sincerely,
Carmen Martine,
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Sara Ashley Dear Claire and family,
It has been a pleasure getting to know Helen through my friend Claire. I had the opportunity to do a few walks in our chilliwack neighborhood and even a hike up Mt. Thom in Chilliwack with Helen, Claire and our boys. Helen was always a joy to be around. I loved learning about her life and even schooling she took years later after raising her children. I admire Helen for so much. I will miss her visits.
With love,
Sara Ashley (Chilliwack, BC)
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Ardelle & AJ Hesford Our sincere condolences and prayers to your family at this sad time.
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Nick & Heather Withers To Helen’s Family and Friends,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. I hope there is some comfort in knowing Helen will not suffer any further. Please accept our sympathies during this exceptionally difficult time for your family.
Nick & Heather Withers
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Michele Richardson My most sincere sympathy and deep condolences to Carol and to Helen’s large extended family. Helen was such a warm, friendly . cultured and elegant lady. I had the good fortune of being her neighbour for many years and she was always kind, generous and in good humour. We shall all miss her terribly.
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Bev Hamilton Dear Claire and family,
So many memories your beautiful Mom has left with all of you. I know they will be well cherished and often shared.
Please know we are thinking of you and now prompted to share memories of our times with your family. Carol and I have been talking on the phone and Murray sent the newspaper obituary to both of us with a note recalling his remembering babysitting at your house. The memory I often think of when I think of your Mom is from sleep overs at your house in Abbotsford. My mom called the thick cuddly blanket a quilt but your mom said comforter. I’d never heard that before and still think of her whenever I use the term… always have!
Much love and warmest thoughts coming to you all,
Bev and Nick
Armstrong BC
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Denyse (Lavoie) Fox To Helen’s family, please accept my deepest sympathies. I met most of you only once, at Carol and Helen’s wedding. It will always be one of my fondest memories. I had the pleasure of having Helen as my sister-in-law for a few short years, long enough to appreciate the kind and sincere lady she was. Sincerely Denyse
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Robin Valentine-Lewis Karen. Lindsay, Christine & Alyssa …. I am so sorry to hear of the passing of “Nana” She was such a beautiful woman with an air of confident and style. I have very fond memories of dropping off Alyssa at her home and hearing stories of their adventures. I also remember her being so supportive of the girl’s dance and schooling. She was truly lovely. I am thinking of you all at this difficult time. Sincerely Robin
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Tom For the past 2 1/2 years I’ve had the good fortune to share more than just a fence with a very special woman next-door. Our encounters were brief, unplanned, had no rhythm and, as expected, were always next to or over our fence. Though we shared very few details of our past and current lives, her greetings and casual conversation was always pleasant and so kind that they brought out a feeling of warmth and a smile to my face. She seemed to really enjoy sitting in the middle of her lawn in the sunshine reading or tenderly caring for her garden. Two years ago she no longer needed a magnolia and generously gave it to me. A month after being transplanted the magnolia bloomed and that brought great joy to her face. Last year, when again the magnolia bloomed, I called her over and again there was the expression of joy. Over the past year I’ve come to witness, from across the fence, a constant procession of family and friends that came to visit and care for her. Their shared comments and commitment allowed me to realize that she was very special and deeply loved. That special woman next-door is Helen. Thank you Carol, Helen’s family and close friends, for allowing me to share more than just a fence with a very special person. Helen, the Magnolia is about to bloom.
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Jo-Anne Vickers I knew Helen from attending yoga classes in Fairfield for several years. Her bright smile and calm demeanour will surely be missed by us all. Sending deepest condolences to all the family at such a sad time. My heart is with you.
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loretta chelini Words……so inadequate when someone you love passes away.May God comfort you all at this time
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Kathryn Askew Dear Carol, Karen, Rosemary, Suzie, Paul and Claire, grandchildren and great-grandchildren,
What to say. Your mother was indeed a very good friend of mine, as was Peter many years ago, and Carol more recently. I regret so much not being in touch with her this past year. She was the most amazing friend – always calling to check in and stay in touch. I had just been thinking of her last week and wondered what she was up to… All the clichés come to mind – and they are all true. A light has indeed gone out. We will all, indeed, miss her so much. The one about “time will heal all wounds”, however, is baloney. There will always be an emptiness in that corner of our minds which will be, forever, Helen. I cannot be either in Victoria or Courtenay with you this week – but Frank will attend at the cemetery for both of us, and stand beside Helen and Peter for one last time. Be good to each other. Life is too short for regrets. Hugs to you all. Kathryn Askew
Today, on the first anniversary of your passing, we are thinking of you, our darling Mom. I imagine that you and Suzie are now together to love and support each other up in heaven, and have reunited with Dad and all of our other family members and friends who were waiting there for you. Here on earth we deeply miss you, but we love you always and we know that you are looking after us from above. This spring I will plant yet more flowers in your honour.