Name: Visitation for Helen LUCAS
Start: 2023-12-07T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-12-07T23:00:00.000Z
Location: Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home

HELEN LUCAS Family and friends are mourning the passing of Helen Lucas on November 27, 2023. Helen was a huge presence in the lives of all who knew her. Her legacy is one of kindness, grace, generosity, authenticity, and advocacy for the well-being of others. She had the heart and passion of an artist, as expressed in her joyous floral paintings. Inspired by her mother's flower gardens, always bursting with colour, Helen's paintings featured intense colours and oversized shapes on large canvases. Surprisingly, they are intimate and approachable, inviting the viewer to enter Helen's world of love and joy. From an early age, her artistic talents were evident. Born in 1931 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, to Greek parents, Effie (Eftihia) and William Geatros, she grew up in Saskatoon and then attended Ontario College of Art (1950-1954). After marriage and the birth of two daughters, she started exhibiting her early black and white figurative works. Since 1953, Helen had more than 50 solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group shows in Canada, the US and in Italy, where she was invited to participate in the Florence Biennale. In 2017, a major retrospective of her artwork was presented by York University. Her paintings can be seen in countless private, corporate and public collections, including The Canadian War Museum, The King City Municipal Offices, Sick Kids Hospital, and The Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre. York University has the largest collection of her artworks, as well as her archive. Between 1973 and 1979, Helen was a Drawing and Painting Master at Sheridan College, voted "Teacher of the Year." Other highlights of her career include an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from York University in 1991 and a First Place award in two categories for the hour long documentary on her life at the Chicago International Film Festival. Additional awards include The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2012, and three Grants from the Ontario Arts Council. Helen published several books, including A Christmas Birthday Story, in collaboration with Margaret Laurence in 1980. Helen is survived by her daughter, Michelle; her sister, Mary; and brother-in-law, Jeff; sons-in-law, Frank and Alan; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents; husband, Derek; sister, Diane; brother-in-law, William; and, in 2014, her beloved daughter, Andrea. Our hearts are heavy, yet her spirit lives on in memory and in her paintings. We know that Helen will continue to enchant, while dancing with her Angels and Doves. A private funeral will take place, and visitation will be on Thursday, December 7th between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. at the Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home, 157 Main Street South, Newmarket, ON L3Y 3Y9. In lieu of flowers, kindly make donations to the Alzheimer Society. For more information about Helen's life, visit: helenlucas.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Globe and Mail from Dec. 2 to Dec. 6, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Helen LUCAS

15 Entries

Brian Grosman

December 10, 2023

Such a loss of a beautiful woman,full of grace and artistic talent. We knew each other during the early years before her studio and before she produced her wonderful flowers.Her memory is a blessing. She will be greatly missed by friends and family. Rest in Peace.

Wendy Hart Penner

December 10, 2023

Sept 75, I walked into my first drawing class in college... and met Helen. A brilliant instructor and beautiful person. I learned so much from her, and still, today, I hear Helen´s quiet, gentle, encouraging words spurring me along my artistic journey.

Arts Society King

Planted Trees

Mark Pavilons

December 6, 2023

I was lucky to have had the opportunity to know Helen for some time and wrote about her in our newspaper. She was as genuine as they come and definitely one of a kind. One of the most interesting souls I ever encountered.

Stella Deacon

December 5, 2023

We connected with Helen through her sister Diane Stratas, sometime in the early eighties. From her amazing studio, we selected a painting (not easy!) that went with us to our next home in Newfoundland. She named it Eleni after our little girl who I was holding in my arms. And she gifted us a wonderful print of a cross section of an apple, with Adam and Eve embracing at its core. Both are treasures in our homes. What a warm, caring, talented human. Her memory is a blessing to us and so many.

Christine Genowefe

December 5, 2023

My condolences to Helen´s family, near and wide. Her angels have taken her home. Helen will remain in my heart and thoughts as a woman filled with a passion for life , infused with spirituality and the flourish of ideas . She remains one of my mentors of all things artistic. Wishing you the peace you sought Helen.

Ursula Carsen

December 3, 2023

So much love and gratitude for all the love, beauty and humour you have shared and given us all, dearest Helen!

Lynn Wilson

December 3, 2023

Absolutely spectacular paintings!!! RIP Helen xo

Lynn Wilson

December 3, 2023

My sincere condolences to Helen's family!!
Helen was a wonderful woman! I met her in 2016 at the Schomberg Street Gallery art show, when I was showing my art there. She admired my work and invited me to her home/studio. We spent a fantastic afternoon talking about art, life, our life stories and laughed alot! When I was leaving Helen went into a storage area and came out with a huge 4' x 4' stretched linen on canvas piece. She handed it to me and said "I want you to paint something on this and show me when it's done". I was terrified to touch it for at least a year and then one day woke up knowing what to paint on it. I called it "Homage To Georgia O'Keeffe" .... it was, and is, an homage to Helen Lucas in thanks for all her gorgeous floral paintings and her being such a special person!! After she saw it, she called the King Sentinel and insisted they do a story on me and this piece, which they did!! I wrote a story about it on art website and have included it here (I hope that's ok). RIP Helen xo

Martha Staigys

December 2, 2023

When I last spoke with Helen, she was working on a series of paintings for I believe it was the Newmarket Hospital. Her huge painting at Sunnybrook was what greeted my husband, John her colleague at Sheridan, when he went there for treatment. They had a lovely friendship and collaborated on her book, Angelica. John did the calligraphy. In later years she brought me comfort after his passing. I will miss her association with John, but also as a friend and painting teacher to me. She was a lovely and kind woman. My condolences to her loved ones.

Mark Pavilons

December 2, 2023

She was one of a kind and never afraid to speak her mind. As authentic as they come.

Kathy Christenson

December 2, 2023

I was lucky enough to be one of Helen's painting students at Sheridan. She was a kind and encouraging teacher as well as an inspired artist. Thank you Helen.

Vivian Carter and Kevin Shin

December 2, 2023

We met Helen and her husband through The Whitten Gallery (King City) in the early 1980's. She was sublime, engaging and kind. We invited her to come and see her glorious painting when we hung it in our living room. She was sincerely touched and delighted to see it there. I would say that when I think of Helen, I think of her graciousness. She was serene and loving. She is already missed.

Heather Barnes

December 2, 2023

We have one of Helen´s beautiful paintings in our home. We were invited to her studio to choose one after our son died. My husband had commissioned one several months previous and Helen had decided that the one she painted was no longer appropriate. We all chose one together. It brings us comfort to this day. Heather and Phil Barnes

Betty & Bruce Cartwright

December 2, 2023

Our deepest sympathy to Helen´s family. What a beautiful lady she was, to learn of her passing is very sad for those who had the pleasure to know her. We have three of her paintings and so enjoyed the shows at her lovely home/studio in King. What a talented artist she was.
Thinking of you,

Showing 1 - 15 of 15 results

Memorial Events
for Helen LUCAS

Dec

Visitation

4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home

157 Main Street South, Newmarket, ON L3Y-3Y9

Funeral services provided by:

Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home

157 Main Street South, Newmarket, ON L3Y-3Y9

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