Helene Mccready

She is lovingly remembered by her 4 children Virginia (Rod) Potter, Renna McCready, Nate (Irene) McCready, and Helen McCready Jr., 11 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild. She is survived by her 2 sisters (Kay and Rosie); and 2 brothers (Alec and Richie) and many nieces & nephews. She was predeceased by her parents (Alexander and Margaret Boos), husband Al McCready (married for 62 years); her 3 sisters (Pauline, Anne, Veronica) and her 7 brothers (Dick, Jack, Otto, Tony, Lawrence, John and Ben).

Helen will be remembered as highly intelligent, a force to be reckoned with, having an infectious laugh and a heart of gold. She loved her children with a deep passion and always had their back. She had a great sense of humor and will be sadly missed by the many lives she touched.

She came from a family of 15 children. Growing up in Northern Alberta on a rural farm in Red Star, she often regaled us with stories of living in a log cabin, sleeping in granaries, hauling water from the river, walking 8 miles to and from a country school every day (5 grades in 1 class!). She and her sister Kay often referred to it as “Tobacco Road”, as the first 10-years of her childhood took place during the Great Depression era. The family later moved to Armstrong, where Helen lived her teenage years.

In her early 20’s she joined the air force and graduated from her radar class, achieving the highest passing grade on record at the time and was offered her choice of any Canadian air-force base in the world. She chose Germany but then, she met the love of her life, Al McCready, and decided to stay in Canada.

Throughout her life, Helen was a self-educator, purchasing numerous sets of encyclopedias on various subjects and studying 2nd languages such as French, German and Spanish. In later years, she focused on Steve Hawking and his scientific discoveries regarding space. During the 70’s she was a member of a monthly book club. She leaves behind a life-time collection of books reflecting the varied subject matters that interested her, as well as notable autobiographies and classic fiction stories.

She had many hobbies over the years including oil painting, white ware pottery, crocheting, rug hooking, needlepoint, sewing and macramé. We all cherish these handmade pieces that she created for us over her lifetime.

Helen helped people, even strangers, whenever she could. In one case, she changed the trajectory of a young man’s life, by helping him with his rent when he was out of work and in jeopardy of losing custody of his children, due to homelessness. There are many other stories to be told of her kindness. She also had a heart for stray animals.

She and her husband Al were successful business owners in Alberta, starting their company Deck & Cladding Overload, Ltd. in 1972. And then went on to start their own steel erection company, AC McCready Steel Erectors, Ltd. Helen taught herself typing, payroll and bookkeeping to run the office side of things for her husband. They also owned a small stable of racehorses during this time.

She travelled extensively with her husband and family throughout Canada and the United States during her lifetime. Due to her husband’s career in the air force and then construction, she also resided in many different towns and cities across Canada.

In 1992, she enrolled in residential property management course and received her certificate. She and Al then went on to manage 4 different apartment blocks within the lower mainland, until 1998, when they retired.

She lived the last 4 years of her life in a care residency, where her family visited often. Helen was known for her feisty, funny personality and her beer-drinking ways. The staff knew her well and gave her the care she needed.

We were blessed to celebrate her 90th birthday earlier this year, where her children, grandchildren and great children were present. Just before her passing, she welcomed her first great-great grandchild into the world.

A private service, “The Celebration of Life” will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2019 with family members.