Helen ECKERT

ECKERT, Helen
Helen Eckert, who peacefully passed away on February 5, 2018, was a warm and wonderful lady who had the ability to make people feel special. She was gentle and kind, saw the good in everyone and will be remembered for the love she had for her family, the faith that guided who she was and the smile that lit up her face. She had a happy laugh and always looked on the bright side of things and she gave the very best hugs. Helen was born in 1929, the sixth daughter of George and Theresa Macko. She loved being part of a big family and treasured memories of birthday celebrations and big tubs of ice cream. All through her life, she enjoyed getting together with her siblings and their families – Bertha and Danny Papp, Mary and Hap Moritz, Peter and Viola Toth (Vivian), Harry Macko, Mickey and Harold Hagarty, Ann and Charles Tyler, Al and Eleanor Macko, Gloria and Leo Sorrell and her many nieces and nephews. She married the love of her life, Adam Eckert (dec. November 2017), and they were as much in love in their 70th year together as they were in their first. Theirs was a marriage that was built on love, respect and laughter and it was wonderful to watch them together. Adam's family were so kind, she quickly came to love them as her own, his parents, John and Eva Eckert and his sister Hazel (Suren Varjabedian) and her family. When Adam and Helen started their own family, Helen was a wonderful mother to Lynda and Rob, always finding time for toddler tea parties, countless stories or soothing scrapes and fevers. Helen and Adam built their home in South Windsor and made great friends at Glenwood United Church, Helen's Bridge Club, the local schools and in their neighbourhood. Helen also enjoyed a lifelong love of reading, her sewing and paper tole and winters in Florida. When Lynda and Rob married Jim Martin and Nancy Sylvestre, she welcomed her "James" and "Nanc" with great joy. The family continued to grow as she and Adam entered that amazing world of grandparenting. Her grands, Chris, Jennifer, David and Adam adored their "Gam" knowing in her they had a treasured gift – someone who loved them unconditionally, who would spend hours sewing a set of stuffed kittens and then would forgive you when you turned them into a football team, someone who called you "her little guy" even when you were no longer little, someone who was always willing to get up early and lose at a card game, someone who was so proud of you, just because you were you and someone who would welcome you with open and loving arms any time or any place. When her grands married Megan, Jon and Lesley and she had great-grandchildren, Braeden, Caelin, Penelope, Emma, Nathan, Chloe and Sophie, they loved her too and she simply opened her arms wider. She was loving to everyone. She was our family's rock when times were hard, she was a comforting hug when times were sad and she was pure joy bursting forth with that beautiful smile when times called for celebration. She was our Mom, our Helen, our Gam – a beautiful spirit and she was loved so very much. A Celebration of Helen's life will be held on Saturday, February 17 at 11:00 a.m. at Glenwood United Church, 1825 Grand Marais Road West, Windsor. Visitation will be at the church at 10:00 a.m. prior to service and a reception will follow at
FAMILIES FIRST
3260 Dougall Ave., South Windsor
519-969-5841
If desired, In Memoriam donations can be sent with thanks to the Ontario Alzheimer Society or Heart & Stroke Foundation. Share memories or make a charitable donation online at
FamiliesFirst.ca