Helen Sloan Gammie

April 15, 1920 – August 8, 2015

Helen Gammie passed away peacefully on August 8, 2015 at the age of 95 years after a full and wonderful life devoted to family and friends. Born on April 15, 1920 in Lethbridge, Helen was the middle child of Earle and Jessie Sloan. She moved to Calgary at an early age and attended Connaught, Sunalta and Central Collegiate Institute. An enthusiastic skater, it was on one of her outings at the Crystal Skating Rink that she met Ken Gammie, who literally ‘picked her up’ when she took a tumble on the ice. A romance blossomed and they were married (in a typical hurried war time wedding) in 1944. Their first child arrived in 1947 and for the next thirty four years Helen was a busy and devoted mom raising her family of four children. A solid anchor in the family, she was kind hearted, accepting and never complained. As the family grew Helen took on the new role of being a loving and supportive grandma, always happy to lend a hand. This caring attitude didn’t stop at her family. Helen very much enjoyed her friends and was particularly fond of her sewing circle bunch and high school sorority sisters, with whom she continued to meet until they were into their eighties. In retirement, Helen and Ken spent the winter months pursuing their love of skating with the Calgary Senior’s Skating Club and spent summer vacations camping in their trailer on the banks of Mill Creek in Southern Alberta. Helen will be dearly missed by her loving family: daughters Margie Niven (Bob) and Barb Gammie; sons Don (Joan) Gammie and Dave Gammie; six grandchildren Jennifer Niven (Nathan Owen), Cailey (Brett) Kruger, Lindsay, Jessica (Jeremy Doucette), Ashley and Nicole Gammie; and one great-grandchild Scocia Owen. Helen will also be fondly remembered by her sister-in-law Jean Sloan, nieces and nephews Linda Manson, Janet Porteous, Jim Tait, Johnny Tait and their families. She was predeceased in 2012 by her beloved husband Ken to whom she had been married for 68 years. Helen was also predeceased by her parents Earle and Jessie Sloan; her brother Bill Sloan; sister Ruth Sloan; brothers and sisters-in-law Gordon and Lois Gammie and Marg and Jack Tait; nephew Rob Gammie and granddaughter Kirsten Niven. A special thank you to the staff and caregivers of the Maple Unit at Cedars Villa for the care and kindness provided to Helen over the past 18 months. A Memorial Service will be held at FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Monday, August 17 at 10:00 a.m. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 119 14 St NW #100, Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6, or to the Alberta Children’s Hospital, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB T3B 6A9. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca

FOSTER'S GARDEN CHAPEL

FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM

Telephone: 403-297-0888

Honoured Provider of Dignity Memorial