Helen Marjorie Murray

September 29, 1921 - November 14, 2015

"Measure your age by friends, not years

Measure your life by smiles, not tears"

Helen was always known for her smile. Even in her later years, everyone at her nursing home commented on her ready smile.

Helen suffered from Alzheimer's disease and she lived at Sunnycrest Nursing home in Whitby for the final 4 1/2 years of her life. Before that she lived with her grandson Andrew, his wife Sonia and their three children, once it was evident she could no longer live safely on her own in her apartment.

She will be missed by her friends and neighbours in her apartment building in Scarborough at 4301 Kingston Rd. where she lived for 30 years, and before that on Kells Avenue.

Helen became a single mom to Pam and Norm when she divorced her husband Jim. She went back to school upgrading her skills and then worked at Drug Trading Company for many years. She made lasting friendships, including her good friend June, who remained a steadfast friend throughout the nursing home years.

She was very proud of her son Norm, who worked for the government of Nunavut until his recent retirement. He now lives in Halifax with his wife Angie, nearby to her son Andy, his wife Yoko, and their children Ken, Hanna and Mia. Helen loved her Skype sessions with Norm over the years right up until her final birthday in September. Her vocabulary had suffered with her Alzheimer's disease, but she loved to sit and look at him on the screen. Norm's son Thomasie was very close to Helen's heart and she asked about him often.

Pam lived close to the nursing home and being retired, could visit almost every day. Both Helen and Pam became very close with the staff, volunteers and residents there. Sunnycrest Nursing Home has a very active entertainment program. Helen attended all events, loving the musical activities most. The dedicated PSWs who worked on the second floor were much appreciated for their hard work and cheer in dealing with Helen as she progressed through the stages of her disease.

Throughout her life, Helen delighted in telling people about her big Irish family. She is survived by her remaining siblings Norm, Wesley and Margaret. She is pre-deceased by siblings May, Reta, Albert, Walter and Beatrice. She leaves many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews with wonderful memories.

Two of her nieces remembered her as 'a best friend, a second mother, who was loved and admired by everyone who met her for her kind, outgoing and down to earth nature' and as an aunt 'who will always have a special place in our hearts'.

Helen was an avid reader throughout most of her life and she certainly loved to dance. She was known for her excellent sense of style: she loved getting dressed to the nines with coordinated outfits and earrings, necklaces and shoes that always matched her purse. This is a legacy that will live on in her great granddaughters who already display a love of fashion.

Her great grandchildren also have Helen's love of baking, and all are very happy when they have an opportunity to help out in the kitchen.

She was a member of the West Hill Ladies Bowling Club into her 80s and was a loyal Blue Jays baseball fan. Helen rarely missed a home game on t.v. in her healthier years.

She loved her grandsons Andrew and Adam and babysat them when they were much younger so Pam could go to university part time. That early bonding served her well, as she remained very close to the boys, their wives and children. She was a devoted great-grandma to Sarah, Ryan, Lisa, Ashley and Andrea who called her Nana. She was lucky to have the best granddaughters-in-law: Sonia and Jackie.

Helen's 90th birthday party, held in Sunnycrest's family room, was very well attended and we will cherish those photos forever.

A tree will be planted in Helen's memory on Belmont Lake at the Bennett family cottage. In keeping with her wishes, there will be no formal service. A family celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Donations to the Alzheimer Society would be appreciated. Dementia and Alzheimer's disease are on the rise. Funding is needed for more research into causes, prevention and a future cure.