(Dec. 25, 1914- June 21, 2007)
Does the eagle know what is in the pit?
Or wilt thou go ask the Mole?
Can wisdom be put in a silver rod?
Or love in a golden bowl? –William Blake
Helen was born Christmas day, 3 months premature with a congenital heart defect. She could have died anytime but waited until she was 92 1/2 years old.
Helen is survived by three special cousins: Charlotte Springman, Eileen Pears, Eveleen Dollery and her only daughter Pauline Adele Kesteven. (Predeceased by her husband, Bruce Richard Kesteven in 1995.)
Helen moved from Mississauga, Ontario in 1999, minutes away from Pauline in Chilliwack, BC. A cheerful, humorous, kind and exceptionally decent character who radiated joy from all the simple things, she happily took part in everything offered to her in her old age. Happy to go for a canoe ride, see Hell’s Gate (and return), visit in Golden, play miniature golf, ride a horse for the first time at 70, belly dance at her 90th birthday party, it doesn’t surprise me that her last unfulfilled wish was to go for a plane ride. Helen died as she lived, peacefully, from a deep sleep to deeper. The day before, she was out on the extended care patio looking at flowers and talking to Pauline. She always liked her brother’s comments: “I would rather die living, than live dying”, and now she is free.
Interment will be held Wednesday, June 27, 2007, 11:00 am, at the Chilliwack Cemeteries. Following the service, family and friends are invited to Pauline’s residence.