Helen left us peacefully on Friday morning on January 22, 2010 at Vancouver General Hospital, she had reached her 65th birthday in July of 2009.  Predeceased by her father, Andrew Stirling and her well-loved dog Amber. Survived by her mother, Margaret, husband James McKenzie, brother Ian Stirling (Stella), and her nieces Lea Stirling (Mark Lawall), Claire Young (Gavin), and nephew Ross Stirling (Lisa Guevremont).  Also  by her loving brother and sister-in-law, Rick and Ginny Mckenzie and Jim’s son and daughter-in-law Parker and Bethany McKenzie.  Helen greatly loved her nieces Lea and Claire, her nephew Ross, Jim’s grandchildren, Levon and Savannah, Rick and Ginny’s children Alex (Dawn), Robbie (Danna), and Louise.  She is also survived by friends from her childhood Sharon Leveque (Gino) and Barbara Daniel (Roger Butterfield).  Survived also by Jasmine who provided her with canine comfort and soothing.  She leaves behind too many loving and caring friends to list but amongst them are Georgia, Val, Bev and Don, Urda, Darakhs, Iris, Kris, Jen and Ren, Ruth, Sally, and many more.  You know who you are.

Helen was born in Northern Rhodesia, and came with her parents and brother, to Canada as a child.  She was raised in Kimberley, B.C. where she grew-up on skis, hiked, mountaineered with her father, swam in Lake Windermere at the family cottage, and developed a deep love of the mountains.  She was educated at UBC where she received a BA, a teaching certificate, and her MSW.

Helen was a social worker for many years and a consummate one.  She was a professional that took pride in doing her work well.  Her work aided many children and adults and she loved working at her practice. Her colleagues in social work as well as the nurses, doctors, and other allied professionals in child welfare and the Vancouver General Hospital respected her competency and caring.  They will miss her.

Dr. Vannesa Murley (Family Physcian) and Dr. Nima Shojania (Rheumatologist) aided Helen greatly in her last few years.  The work and care by the doctors, nurses and care attendants of the Chest Centre as well as the BC Cancer Centre was great.  Dr. Judith Pike and Dr. Kenneth Swenerton of the BC Cancer Agency were outstanding in their treatment, care, and support of Helen; they cannot be thanked too much for their work.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. James’ Anglican Church (303 East Cordova Street, Vancouver) at noon, March 2nd. A reception and Celebration of Life will be held in the church hall.  In lieu of flowers donations in Helen’s memory may be made to the Vancouver General Hospital BPTU Multidisciplinary Fund Foundation or the BC Cancer Agency.

You are on another part of your journey now, my darling, happy trails.