HELEN JOYCE MCCAMMON

HELEN JOYCE MCCAMMON July 4, 1923 - September 10, 2013 Our family lost a loving mother and indomitable spirit this week. Daughter of William and Lotus Williamson; sister to Bill and June; married to Morgan for 35 years; mother of five sons - Carl, Andrew, David, John, Stephen; grandmother to Jenna and Rob, Kate and Reed, and Keenan and Hannah; great-grandmother to Helen, Cameron, Kate, and Patrick; and mother-in-law to Joanne, Julia, Carolyn, and Penny. Helen's accomplishments were many. She renovated a century farmhouse in Quebec, where she planted and maintained wonderful gardens; served as president of the North Hatley Unitarian-Universalist Church; co-chaired the North Hatley Antiques and Folk Show; was a board member of the library; helped establish a farmer's market long before it was fashionable; and was a great cook and gracious hostess. She took up painting in her sixties; adopted Henry the lost poodle in her seventies; and went to England, France, Italy, Egypt, and the Grand Canyon in her eighties. In spite of arthritic pain and memory loss in latter years, she held her own with crossword puzzles, scrabble, and her sons, equally at ease imparting wisdom, teasing, and refusing to abandon the role of being a mother. Helen died of pneumonia in Oakville, where she lived with her son John and his partner John - her veritable sixth son. Visitation at OAKVIEW FUNERAL HOME, (56 Lakeshore Rd. W., Oakville), Saturday, September 14th, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Thanks to the staff of 4 East at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial. Donations to Toronto SickKids or The Salvation Army. Online condolences may be offered at www.oakviewfuneral.ca