Helen Knights

Helen Knights, daughter of Helena and T.G. Rogers, was born in Toronto in 1912. She was educated at Havergal College and received her BA at Victoria University. In 1937 she married Thomas Edgar Parkinson. He joined the Queen's Own Rifles in 1939 and trained in Newfoundland, New Brunswick and England. He was killed in action at Boulogne, France in 1944. During the War Years, Helen became a Lady Ambulance Officer with the St. John's Ambulance in Toronto. She served as a volunteer nurse at Christie St. Hospital, for Soldiers of the First World War and at the Women's College Hospital. She also nursed many of her own family when illness occurred. She also worked in the family business, Lake Simcoe Ice and Enterprises. After her husband's death, she became a Dietitian at Moulton Ladies College in Toronto. In 1946, Helen married Orval Knights of Thunder Bay and adopted his four lovely daughters; Maureen, Lynda, Lois and Gail. This brought many new relatives into her life. Her own family, Tom's family, Orval's family and the girl's family. This was a wonderful addition to her own life and that of the girls Over the years the girl's left home to pursue a higher education or to get married. This left Helen time to pursue her love of using her hands to create. She took many workshops in Thunder Bay in all aspects of art and craft. Visiting artists from Toronto and Winnipeg were brought in. She became a very versatile artist in her own right, trying a variety of mediums-enamel on copper, oil and acrylic paintings, batik and tie dye, rug knotting, etching and collographs and the fabric arts of quilting and making her own clothing. She won many awards in the different arts. When she started printing she was given immeasurable help from Walter Sunahara of Ontario Arts Council in Toronto. Later she was sponsored by Prof. Winston Leathers, printmaker and professor at the University of Manitoba. He introduced her to the World of Art in Winnipeg enabling her to meet those who could further her interests. Her etching and collographs were accepted in International Shows. Her etchings are in the Government Building on James Street, Thunder Bay and Confederation College has some of her collographs and the office of the Lieutenant Governor, Queen's Park, Toronto, and may public and private collections. Slides of her prints are in the National Gallery in Ottawa and in the Winnipeg Art Gallery. In 1982, Helen was given a grant from the Ontario Arts Council in Toronto toward a craft tour to Australia and New Zealand. This enabled her to take many slides of the arts and crafts to show in Thunder Bay on her return. Helen was an active member of the Thunder Bay Quilter's Guild, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay Museum, Canadian Federation of University Women and of Trinity United Church. Her home displays her art in many forms and her involvement brought many friendships. Helen was predecease by her husband Orval in 1977, her parents, her daughter Gail Pinna, her two sisters Ruth Bastedo and Margaret Elder of Toronto and her brother George Rogers of Meaford, Ontario, son-in-law Walter as well as other family members, She is survived by her daughters and their families and numerous nieces and nephews. She was rightly called the "Matriarch of the Family", keeping in touch with all of them. When the girls married they all moved to different cities, they all maintained a very close tie to each other and to Helen. There are 9 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren making their homes across Canada. Maureen married Walter Charron, St. Lambert, P.Q., they have four children and their families. Lorraine (Dale Kenney), Kingston, Ontario have two boys Aaron (Kelly) and Matthew. Bruce (Ann), Montreal, P.Q. have three girls, Lindsay, Stephanie and Kirsten. Peter, Montreal, P.Q. has two children, Timothy and Hilary. Nancy, Nepean, Ontario has two girls Nicole and Carly. Lynda married Paul Tuckwell, North Saanach, B.C. They have three children, Cathy, Toronto, Ontario, Todd and John, Edmonton, Alberta. Lois Barker, Fort Erie, Ontario has two daughters, Karen, Toronto, Ontario and Kimberley, Santa Monica, California. Gail Pinna, Calgary, Alberta (deceased). A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2015 in the Sargent & Son Funeral Chapel, 21 North Court Street.On-line condolences may be made at: www.sargentandson.com"