Helen Lorraine McAllister (nee Keyes)

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elevated Bgkd4 October 28, 1921 – April 9, 2020

elevated Bgkd4 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother Helen in her 99th year.  She was the matriarch of a large and loving extended family.

elevated Bgkd4 Helen was born in Joyceville to Emily and Joseph Keyes.

elevated Bgkd4 She grew up in Gananoque with her brothers Kenneth, Richard, the Rev. Edward, Vincent, John, and her sisters Mary Frances and Margaret.  She loved them dearly.

elevated Bgkd4 Helen graduated from nursing at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston.  She married our father, the late Phil McAllister (d. 1990).  They started their life together in Kingston and later moved to Toronto.  They were proud parents of 6 daughters:  Anne Boyd (Ken), Pat McMenemy, Mary Cousins (Russ), Helen Ruth (d. 1952), Maureen Philbrook (Paul) and Margaret McAllister.

elevated Bgkd4 Mom was blessed with 13 grandchildren: David (Martine), kevn and Stephen (Tricia) Boyd, Katie (Bryan) Benjamin, Elizabeth (Jennifer Sands) and Patrick (Amanda) McMenemy, Sarah (Nick) Docker and Peter (Michelle) Cousins, Andrew and Stephen (Suzana) Philbrook and Alexandra (Christopher) Burke, Annie and Thomas Kavanagh.

elevated Bgkd4 She had 16 great-grandchildren: Michael and Lauren Boyd, Kaitlyn and Jeffrey Boyd, William and Daniel Benjamin, Georgia and Charlie Sands, Gavin and Charlotte Docker, Ronan, Colin and Gordon Cousins, Elyse Philbrook and Walter and Cecilia Philbrook.

elevated Bgkd4 She loved every moment she spent with her grand and great-grandchildren and took an avid interest in their lives.  They loved their “Grandmother” who was a very special and revered person to all of them.  They miss her.

elevated Bgkd4 Mom lived an active life.  She volunteered at St. Michael’s Hospital for over 15 years and for the Canadian Cancer Society for many more.  She and Dad travelled extensively through Canada and Europe.  She loved her garden.  A highlight each year was the Hallowe’en costume party with their education friends.  For years she played bridge every Wednesday afternoon.  She also loved playing euchre with her grandchildren.  She started every day with morning Mass, followed by coffee with her friends from St. Margaret’s.  When she became restless, we knew that soon she would be off to her beloved Gananoque to spend time with her parents, siblings and friends.  Mom loved family reunions where she could catch up with her many nieces and nephews.

elevated Bgkd4 Mom lived at Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence for the last four years.  The family would like to thank all the doctors and staff who took such wonderful care of our mother.

elevated Bgkd4 Our Mother left a legacy of love, kindness and deeply rooted Catholic faith. She will be sorely missed.  A private family funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, September 28, 2020 at the Chapel of St. Joseph at Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home.  Inurnment to be held at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.  The funeral mass will be live-steamed online Monday, September 28, 2020 at 10:30 a.m.

elevated Bgkd4 In lieu of flowers, donations to The Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Diabetes Association or Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence would be appreciated by the family as your expression of sympathy.

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elevated Bgkd4