CRAIG, Helen Margaret -

Helen left our world on Wednesday June 13, 2018 with grace, dignity and strength of spirit. The last few months have been a time of deep connection and meaning for our family. It has been a time to tell stories, grow closer and gather around the woman at our family’s core. Helen - wife, mother, grandmother - dispenser of wisdom and what she would call tough love. Tough love was a gentle firmness and a constant challenging to make a difference in our world through respect, caring and hard work.

Helen was a strong woman who followed and shared her passion and commitment to a full life through her work, family and friends. A role model to her daughters - she embarked on a second degree in horticulture and a second career as a horticulturist at the Civic Garden Centre, built a greenhouse at 18 Rochester and transported her plants to Camelot in the summer (always before our bikes!). She retired from her work when her first granddaughter, Emma was born in 1990, to spend more time with family. She always remained deeply engaged in the horticultural community as a judge, volunteer and frequent prize winner for her speciality - bromeliads.

Over 50 summers were spent at Camelot, on Lake Simcoe. Helen brought her competitive spirit to badminton, shuffleboard, and many rousing card games from bridge to sevens. At happy hour by the water, with rye and seven-up, surrounded by friends and always with Jimbo by her side, Helen welcomed all with graciousness, dry humour, and warm, thoughtful presence. Some of her happiest times, were with Jimbo challenging the winds of Lake Simcoe in their sailboat.

Helen Margaret Reid was born in 1930, growing up in Ottawa with her parents William and Margaret Reid, brother Donald and sister Marion. At a young age, she lost two siblings – Gordon and Doris. She attended Glebe Collegiate. During this time she lost her father. Her mother, Margaret, took over the family furniture business establishing the trajectory of strong Reid women. Helen meet Jim, the love of her life, at Glebe - but didn’t realize it until graduating from Queen’s with a BA/BPHE and attending Teachers College in Toronto. Reconnecting in Toronto, when Helen was teaching at George Harvey Collegiate, Jim and Helen married in 1956. Partners in life, travel, adventure and bridge, they created a cherished world for their family and friends. Helen and Jim travelled the world, trekking on all five continents. Her favourite adventure was a 100 mile hike of the Cornish coastline with brother and sister-in-law Ross and Ruth Craig. Dedicated grandparents, Helen and Jim travelled to the west coast many times for adventures with Shelley and her family.

Helen expressed her care and love through doing. She volunteered throughout her life from at the Bloorview MacMillian Centre working with an innovative communication system called Bliss symbols; Lawrence Park Community Church (over 35 years as a member of the flower committee); Toronto Garden Club; and as one of the founding leaders of Canada Blooms. Always a trailblazer, she was the first woman coach in the local softball league.

Helen had a deep bond with her sister Marion. Our two families grew up as one with houses and cottages on the same roads. Marion was her constant bridge partner - they played together seamlessly and intuitively. Helen and Jim were regulars at the Granite Club duplicate. Helen founded a bridge club with her friends in 1955 and they shared cards, stories, and their lives for over sixty years.

She was our centre, supporting and grounding us all through the celebrations and bumps in our lives. Her thoughtful spirit, keen intellect, committed Sudoku skills, and encompassing love will be deeply missed by her family. Her husband Jim, children Shelley (Jeff), Geoffrey (Susan) and Wendy; grandchildren Emma (Chris), Gillian (Andrew), Nicola, Leah, Marcus, and Sophie; and step-grandchildren Megan (Todd) and Melinda (Adam) and little Finn will carry her in our hearts always.

We are deeply grateful to her caregivers that have supported Helen and allowed her to remain at home. Thank you Mina, Dolly, Sarah and the fine staff of the Temmy Latner Centre.

Please join us in a Celebration of Helen’s Life at The Granite Club, 2350 Bayview Avenue, Toronto on Monday, June 18, 2018 at 2:30pm. In lieu of flowers, you may wish to donate in Helen’s memory to the Toronto Botanical Garden, Garden Club of Toronto, 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto, ON M3C 1P2, 416-447-5218,
office@thegardencluboftoronto.ca, www.thegardencluboftoronto.ca.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to the NEWEDIUK FUNERAL HOME, KIPLING CHAPEL 416-745-7555. Online Condolences at newediukfuneralhome.com