Mrs. Helen Bader of Lethbridge, beloved wife of the late Mr. Erwin Bader, passed away at St. Michael's Palliative Care Centre on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the age of 92 years.

Helen is survived by her sister Elizabeth Sheer; brother Alex Orosz; sons Edward Bader and John (Debbie) Bader; daughters Diane (Steve) Munroe and Karen (Lynn) Joy; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Helen was born September 16, 1932, to Annie and John Orosz. She was born in a beet shack located in Welling, Alberta. Her father, John, was the midwife. Helen was the second of 7 children: Mary, Mom, Annie (who passed away at 16 years old), Olga, Bobbie (who died of Diphtheria at the age of 2), Alex and Elizabeth. All who have passed away except for the two youngest, Alex and Elizabeth (Lizzy).

Mom talked about how she grew up on the family farm by Coalhurst, Alberta. She relayed how she would often read a book when watching and switching the flow of water, while ditch irrigating her father's crops. Mom never enjoyed being a farm girl and couldn't wait to leave, so at the age of 16 she moved to Lethbridge to work at the laundry in the Galt Hospital. She lived in the little green house which still stands and is now the office for the Green Acres Foundation, right beside Pemmican Lodge.

Mom reminisced about how she and her friends (all who have passed away), would dress up and wearing their high heeled shoes, would walk downtown and stop for a slice of pie and ice cream. Mom was always watching her weight, so she mostly just had something to drink.

Twice a week there was a dance at the Trianon where she was often asked to dance as she was both good-looking and "light on her feet". She recalled how the Italian men would always ask her to dance as she was very quick to catch onto their dance moves. She laughed at how one man tried to trick her but couldn't and later just shook his head and smiled.

It was at one of these dances where Mom met our father, Erwin Bader. Many people would stop to watch them twirl around on the dance floor as they were a very handsome couple. Mom was asked how did Dad propose? She said her sister Mary was recently engaged to Uncle Frank, so Dad turned to Mom in the car while at a red light and said, "We might as well get married as well". So, there was a double wedding that took place on January 2, 1954. Aunt Mary and Uncle Frank first, then Mom and Dad Mom recalled often how nice the weather was for that time of year and how no one needed to wear a coat that day. Mom and Dad celebrated 68 years of marriage before Dad passed away in 2022.

They initially settled in a small house in Lethbridge while Dad worked for LNID (Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District). There are still some trees standing that he planted around Park Lake. It was then that Dad told Mom he really wanted to farm. That was one thing Mom never wanted to do, but she did for him.

Mom spoke of the hard work they had to do, for example, harvesting the sugar beets and hand topping the whole field. She said it hurt her back from always bending down, but she dropped a lot of pounds from the exercise, "I went to 120 pounds". She said the neighbors, most of whom were older Hungarians, all thought what are these kids thinking - Mom was 20 and Dad 24. Many thought they wouldn't last a year. After 47 years of farming Erwin and Helen retired to Lethbridge, AB in June 2001.

Mom enjoyed shopping. One of her favorite things was to come into town and go shopping with her daughter Karen. Karen was able to do this with her, as she worked mostly evenings and weekends, so she was available on many of the days Mom shipped cream to the dairy.

Mom had a great sense of humor and was a very pleasant person. As she matured and settled into Lethbridge, she continued to keep in touch with visits to her brother's farm, visiting Aunt Diane (now deceased) and Uncle Alex. She always filled us in on how the Orosz family was doing.

Dad always encouraged Mom to travel, so she had the amazing experience of visiting Hungary with her sister Liz and niece Leah and meeting her relatives there. She especially enjoyed the 2 days spent in Amsterdam. Mom and Aunt Liz also frequently went to Thunder Bay, Ontario to visit their sister Mary and the Balint family. Mom and Dad also went to Hawaii with Karen. Dad tired mom out by always wanting to go sightseeing.

Mom also really enjoyed her visits to Mexico with her son John and wife Debbie Bader. It was there she became close friends with some of Debbie's friends and family, especially Diana (Deb's daughter) and Marianne (Deb's best friend).

It was following Dad's death that she really became lonely. During this time, she became friends with Claire, who helped clean her house, and her next-door neighbor who always helped out with the moving of her garbage cans.

Mom stayed living in her own home until the age of 92 with the support of her family. It was during this past spring where she became increasingly weaker and her fight against her cancer became more difficult. Luckily for her, she had a high pain tolerance, so she didn't suffer from pain until the end

Mom was a very special lady, always willing to give or help out anyone who needed it. She stated she had a good life and was happy for the most part. She had a good relationship with all of her family members, especially her younger sister Lizzy. Aunt Liz was always a great comfort and support to Mom.

We will miss Mom very much, but we know she is now pain-free and most likely dancing with Dad in heaven.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 – 4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta. With burial to follow in the Mountain View Cemetery.

For those who wish, memorial donations in Helen’s name may be made to the St. Michael’s Palliative Care Centre.

To watch the Service via livestream, please visit https://youtube.com/live/l8ig-coO6W8?feature=share