Obituary of Helen Stanley

STANLEY: Mary Helen Eileen (nee Malone), much loved wife of the late Russ Stanley, passed away peacefully at home on September 29, 2014, surrounded by the love of her daughter Elaine, granddaughter Kim, and son Ted. Helen was born in Charlottetown, PEI, on May 30, 1926 to Joseph and Mary (Power) Malone. Helen was blessed with a younger brother, Frederick (Ted). She graduated with honors from Notre Dame Academy and received the Governor General's award. She also attended Prince of Wales College. In July 1943, at the age of 17, Helen moved to Toronto, ON, to work in a war plant. In December, she moved to Kingston, ON, and worked as a Chemical Analyst at the Aluminum Company of Canada for two and a half years. One day while in line at a movie, giggling with a friend, Helen tried to discretely pet the fur coat on the lady ahead of her, and she was spotted by a young soldier who had a chuckle watching her. The next night, he saw her at a dance and so began their relationship. Helen married Russ, her best friend and the love of her life, in Kingston on July 15, 1945. Upon Russ's discharge from the military in August 1946, they moved to Brandon. They had three children: Ted, Elaine and Jerry. They were married for almost 68 years when Russ passed away in March 2013. Helen was an intelligent woman with a thirst for knowledge and a desire to be involved…her professional years were busy! In March 1954, Helen started work at the Brandon Sanatorium as a Nursing Assistant. In February 1956, she began working in the laboratory. In October 1957, she began working at Brandon Mental Health Centre (BMHC) Laboratory as Charge Tech for the Milk and Water Department. While working and raising a family, she took the medical laboratory training courses. In 1959, she wrote the Canadian Society of Laboratory Technologists (CSLT) national exams and was certified as a Registered Technologist (R.T. General). In July 1962, Helen moved to the Brandon General Hospital (BGH) Laboratory as Senior Technologist in the then-infant Microbiology Department. During this time, in the 1960's, she also helped Russ operate their store, Russ's Grocery, at 251-3rd Street. Helen passed the CSLT exam for her advanced certification (A.R.T.) in 1968. From 1969 to 1971, while continuing in microbiology, Helen was given the added responsibility of Student Coordinator for lab student training. In April 1971, she was given the job as Instructor/Coordinator for lab students. Helen became the Education Head at Westman Regional Laboratory Services (WRLS) on its inception in 1974 and held that position until her retirement in 1988. She also provided editorial duties for "Lab-Com", the WRLS newsletter. Through her work with students, Helen touched many lives. Helen's caring nature showed in her concern for her students during their training. While working, Helen continued to satisfy her thirst for knowledge by taking some journalism courses at Brandon University, health care management courses at Assiniboine Community College (ACC), and attending lab conferences whenever possible. Helen was active in her professional association, CSLT, on both local and national levels, for many years. On a local level, in the 1960's, she was active in the Manitoba Laboratory and X-ray Society and served as a Director throughout much of its existence. After Brandon Academy was formed, Helen served as Secretary, Director, Chairman of Continuing Education, President and Past President. Helen became a member of Brandon's Post Graduate Course Committee and over the years served in various capacities such as Director, Secretary and Program Chairman. During this time, she also instructed evening courses in Advanced Hematology and Advanced Microbiology at ACC. On a national level, in 1968, Helen joined several Sections of the National CSLT Science Sections. From 1971 to 1977, she was elected Chairman of the Hematology Science Section. From 1971 to 1973, she was the CSLT representative on the Advisory Committee of the Medical Technology Section at Red River Community College. In 1976, she was elected to the CSLT Certification Board and served for two years. In 1979, she became Chair of the Science Sections General Laboratory Forum, and in 1980, the CSLT Board of Directors appointed her as National Coordinator of the seven Science Sections. In conjunction with this, she was responsible for the quarterly Science Section publication LINK, and served as an ex-officio member of the Certification Board in 1980 and 1981. Helen remained as Science Sections Coordinator until their dissolution at the end of 1984. In 1987, when CSLT celebrated its 50th Anniversary, Helen was a recipient of a one-time special award established to honour 50 Society members across Canada who had never been formally recognized for their significant contribution to the Society's growth and development. Helen was one of the founding members of the Manitoba Paramedical Association, now known as the Manitoba Association for Health Care Professionals (MAHCP), and served as a local representative and a bargaining committee member. In 1990, Helen was inducted into the MAHCP Honour Roll for her contribution to the growth of the Association. Helen served for many years on the Boards of BMHC and BGH Credit Unions. She was Chairman of the Committee which paved the way for the successful amalgamation of BGH Credit Union with Westoba Credit Union. Helen's many endearing traits were evident in her personal and professional lives: her ready smile, her wit, her integrity, her genuine interest in others, and her strong sense of fairness. She was a people person who loved to talk and socialize. Helen's most endearing trait was her kind, compassionate, and caring heart. She was always a sympathetic listener and was willing to help someone in any way she could. One of Helen's greatest joys was her family – any time spent with them was precious to her. Even through the difficult challenges of Alzheimer's Disease, her generous smile, her twinkle in her eye, and her giggle persevered. We miss her dearly. Helen's faith was very important to her, from her childhood days attending St. Dunstan's Basilica in Charlottetown to joining St. Augustine's Church when she moved to Brandon. Her relationship with God was important to her. When she was no longer able to attend services, she participated via Catholic mass on TV. Two things which could always make her smile were children and animals. On outings, babies and young children always caught her attention and she enjoyed an opportunity to watch and interact with them. Helen enjoyed seeing the birds, deer, rabbits, squirrels, and wild turkeys that visited the yard. Through the years, she and Russ had numerous cats and dogs which were lovingly cared for and treated as children. Of their last trio of cats, Buddy claimed Helen as his person and was typically found tucked under her arm being carried around the house or on her lap. He trained her well! She was fascinated with tigers - thank goodness it was not legal to own them! Helen and Russ loved to travel, first with the kids to PEI, Alberta, and Boston. Once the kids left home, so did Russ and Helen any chance they got. They travelled to PEI, Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Boston, Florida, California, Vegas, Tahoe, Atlantic City, Nashville, and overnight trips to different casinos. Once long trips became difficult, they enjoyed their casino day trips to Winnipeg with Prairie Oasis. They talked often about how much they enjoyed their trips and all the people they had met - time well spent. Through the years, Helen enjoyed dancing, bowling, swimming, curling, clogging, Toastmasters and board games. She was a voracious reader and read every chance she got. Helen enjoyed writing: poems, stories and skits. At her retirement party, she joked to attendees that she was going to write a book and some of them just might find themselves in it. Music and singing brought her great joy as both a child and an adult. Kim remembers, as a child, Helen singing to her, particularly Irish songs. At home, Helen would often be heard singing. After retirement, she joined the Prairie Oasis choir until her voice no longer let her continue. She loved the music shows on TV, and Helen and Russ often sang along to the show "Let's Sing Again". Her enjoyment of music stayed with her right through her last days. Survived by her son Ted (son Kelly, grandsons Mike, Chris and Dennis); daughter Elaine (G. W. Hannay), granddaughter Kim, G.W.'s sons Shaun and Ryan (Crystal, Nathan, Jeremy and Emma); son Jerry (Roberta), granddaughters Amanda and Cassandra (Blair, Connor); nephew Mike Malone of Edmonton; cousin Pat (Mike) Feeney and family of Boston; sisters-in-law Joanna Malone, Joyce Stanley, Evelyn Webber and Ann Stanley; brothers- in-law Ernie and John; and, nieces and nephews. Helen was predeceased by her husband Russ; mother and father; brother Ted; aunt and uncle, Helen and Ed Trainer (Boston), cousins Shirley Trainor and Sharlene Grealy (Boston); daughter-in-law Joanne Rollins and her daughter Patti; father and mother-in-law Oliver and Jennie Stanley; sisters-in-law Carol Malone, Vivian Adams, Emma and Sylvia Stanley; and, brothers-in-law Ollie, Bert, and Gerald Stanley, Jack Webber and Buster Adams. Father Patrick Neufeld officiated Mass of Christian Burial at St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, with interment at Rosewood Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Ryan and Shaun Hannay and members of the Knights of Columbus. Thank you to Wade and staff at Brockie Donovan for their compassion and professionalism. Thank you to family and friends for the kindness and expressions of sympathy shown to us at the time of Helen's passing. Thank you to those who donated to the Alzheimer's Society and the Brandon Humane Society.