Helen "Hilda" Williams

On Thursday, August 24, 2017 Helen passed away at the age of 93 years.

Helen will be sadly missed by her siblings, brother, Joe (Ann); sister, Mary (Peter), Elizabeth and Josephine (Ed); sister in law, Olga, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, John and Katie Semashkewich; husband, Bill; brother, Stanley; two brothers in the old country, and baby sister; brother in law, Nick; niece & godchild, Jo-Ann.

Helen was born on December 9, 1923 in Poland. In 1929, at the age of 6, Helen immigrated to Canada with her mother. The family settled in Spruce Valley, Alberta. When Helen started school, she was told that she should be referred to as Hilda because the two names were ultimately the same not to mention that there was 3 Helen's in her class, so the teacher had to get creative. After years of being called Hilda, she was filing her seniors benefits and found out that her name was Helen, and proudly reclaimed her name Helen. At 16 Helen quit school and moved to Edmonton to work. She worked at a café called Silk Hat, then moved on to Style Master, then GWG and on to Sears Drapery. She loved to sew, sewing came naturally to her creating her own patterns. She sewed many things over the years for her sisters and family. She was an excellent seamstress. On November 30, 1962, she married Bill Williams. Her and Bill lived in Edmonton until 1978 when they retired to Kelowna. Helen loved her flowers, always having immaculate gardens at her home. She loved to paint, teaching her great nieces and nephews over the years to paint. Her husband Bill passed away in 1998. In 2006 Helen moved back to Edmonton to be closer to her family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at St. Albert Funeral Home, 9 Muir Drive, St. Albert, Alberta.

Cremation has taken place. Interment to take place in Bon Accord Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to Charity of One's Choice.


To send condolences, please visit www.connelly-mckinley.com.

Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home
St. Albert Chapel
(780) 458-2222