The family are deeply saddened by the loss of Helen Pollard who passed away peacefully on Friday, December 8, 2017 at Nanaimo General Hospital.
Helen was born on April 4,1925 in Dryden, Ontario, the middle child of Franklin and Alice Baker. She was predeceased by her parents, husband Edwin Burton, an infant son, son Kenneth Warren, brother James, sister Evelyn, twin grandsons, and best friend Frank Good.
She is survived by her daughters Marlene (Del), and Brenda (Bill), son Edwin (Lois), daughter in law Colleen, eight grandchildren, five step grandchildren and their families.
Mom had a love of life. She enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing with dad. Together they built a family life which not only included their four children but also the raising of a niece and nephew. There was always a large garden to tend and the fruits of that garden would be harvested and preserved for the winter along with wild strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.
Mom stayed at home to raise the family and it was later in her life that she learned to drive a car and went out into the work force. She worked in retail for a while until she was hired on as a custodian with the school board, a job she took pride in until her retirement.
After retirement mom moved from Dryden to Ignace, Ontario where she lived for nine years before trying a winter in Port Coquitlam B.C. She found the winter weather much more favourable there. She returned to Ignace in the spring of 1999 to pack up her things, sell her place and make a permanent move to Port Coquitlam where she was lovingly and unconditionally received into her daughter Brenda and son in law Bill’s home.
Brenda and Bill purchased a home in Nanaimo and mom moved into that home where she remained until the time of her death. She was well know in her neighbourhood and neighbours would greet her with a friendly hello, lend a hand, or drop by with their pets to which mom would always provide a treat. She appreciated those visits very much.
She made many friends and especially liked her outings to the Moose to play Bingo, to Bowen Park where she proudly participated in taking the collection for the Thursday entertainment, and her travels on Janie’s bus to see areas of interest on the Island as well as take part in the dining opportunities. She was most fond of the monthly trip to Victoria where she would go to the IMAX to see the presentations.
A celebration of life for Helen will take place on Friday April 6, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. a First Memorial Funeral Home, 1720 Bowen Road, in Nanaimo, B.C.
Interment of ashes will take place on May 18th, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. in the Dryden Cemetery in Dryden, Ontario.