It is with great sadness that we share the news of our beloved Helen Maria Matousek - born October 31,1936 and passed on March 23, 2022.
It is with great happiness that we had the privilege to know her, love her and share some of her 85 wonderful years of life.
Helen lived in New Westminster for nearly 55 years after immigrating to Canada with her family in 1968. For local residents, she was known and loved as the “Helen” in Helens Deli in Sapperton for nearly 20 of those years. Prior to that, she worked with sporting goods store owner Earl Petterson and others, as an accountant. Helen loved Canada and while proud of her Czech heritage, she deeply appreciated the chance for a fresh start when her home country faced such violence and uncertainty. The story of her and her husband’s arrival with a four-year-old girl in tow - and not much more than the clothes on their backs - is deeply moving and inspiring.
Prior to her arrival and back in the Czech Republic, Helen graced the local stages as an actress of some note, loved her German Shepard’s, a good joke (especially if it was on Alan) and was fiercely loyal of anyone in her family.
Helen will be remembered too as a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and will be truly missed. She is survived by her loving husband Alan, daughter Katherina, son-in-law Vince, grandchildren Joe, Amanda, Ben, and Alyssa.
Deeply loved by her family she will be truly missed.