Helen Audrey Stanley (nee Nicholson) of Hanover, formerly of Kinloss, passed away at Hanover District Hospital on April 30th, 2018 surrounded by her six daughters.   

Helen was born September 14th, 1939 on the South Line of Kincardine Township to the late Walter and Edna Nicholson. She married the love of her life, Ray Stanley, at the Anglican Church in Bervie on New Year’s Eve 1955.  After a couple years travelling west and spending a winter in Whitechurch, they made their home in the hamlet of Kinloss. Helen’s focus was on raising their girls, creating a welcoming home for family and friends, and contributing to her community. She led 4-H homemaking clubs, was a member of the United Church Women and Women’s Institute, and was actively involved with the Kinloss Community Centre. Her volunteer work often included church dinners and snowmobile suppers where her butterscotch pies were a fan favorite. After moving to Hanover seven years ago, Helen made many new friends at Grace United Church, in her knitting circle, at euchre parties, and around her neighborhood.

Helen and her recently passed (March 15, 2018) husband, Ray, leave behind six heartbroken daughters: Barbara (Aaron) Bittorf of Ingersoll, Janice (Gary) Richardson of Hanover, Valerie (Dane) Found of California, Heather (Larry) Christie of Tara, Julie Stanley of Owen Sound, and Jennifer Stanley of Toronto.  Memories of Grandma quilts and Sunday suppers are shared by grandchildren Mark and Sarah Bittorf, Nicole and Ashley Richardson, Raymond (Kelly) Found and Katelyn (Deric) Williams, Laurissa and Loral Christie, and great grandchildren Addilyn, Cole and Nathan.  Helen loved being surrounded by family and even in her final days in palliative care she delighted in the commotion of her grandchildren playing games and gathering for meals.

The youngest of eight children, Helen is predeceased by sisters Marjorie Thompson and Kathleen (“Kay”) Thacker, and by brothers Francis (“Bert”), Malcolm, Clayton, Donald and Norman. She is survived by sisters-in-law Marjorie Nicholson of Bervie, Vivian Eizenga (nee Stanley) and Lyla Johnston (nee Stanley), both of London, and by brother-in-law Delbert Stanley of Wingham. Helen also leaves a host of dear nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbours and friends.

Visitation at Mighton Funeral Home in Hanover on Thursday, May 3rd, 2018 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.; funeral service at Grace United Church in Hanover on Friday, May 4th, 2018 at 11 a.m. Interments for both Ray and Helen will follow at Durham Road Baptist Cemetery on Highway 9 west of Greenock, with reception at Kinloss Community Centre.

Memorial donations to Grace United Church or the Kinloss Community Centre appreciated as expressions of sympathy.