Helen Vaselenak

Mrs. Helen Vaselenak, beloved wife of the late John Vaselenak went to her heavenly home peacefully on January 12, 2023, at the age of 94 years.

Helen was born in Coalhurst, Alberta on July 14, 1928, to Nicholas and Ann Woloschuk who immigrated from the Ukraine in 1924. She was raised on a farm near Coalhurst with her two sisters Mary (Bogusky) and Gladys (Vaselenak).

Helen married John Vaselenak on May 30, 1946. They were married for almost 60 years until John’s passing in 2006. Helen worked alongside her husband to establish the family farm hoeing sugar beets and milking cows along with raising five children. She lived there for 76 years until her passing.

Throughout these years family and friends were always welcome to stop for a visit with coffee and cookies around the kitchen table.

Helen’s love for her family was evident in all she did. Whether it was baking cookies, knitting afghans, making perogies and pagotchy to give away to everyone in the family. She would also be at every grandchild’s sporting event and birthday celebration missing very few throughout the years.

Travelling to many parts of the world with family and friends was one of Helen and John’s reward for their hard work. Helen’s favorite however was always Hawaii, travelling there over 20 times.

Helen had a deep faith in God attending church faithfully since accepting Jesus as her Lord and Savior in 1987. She volunteered for 20 years at the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen and every year lovingly packed a shoebox through Samaritan’s Purse to be sent to needy children around the world. She attended the Coaldale Senior Centre, Readymade 50 plus and Prime Timers at Evangelical church for many years.

A strong, determined farm woman who spoke her mind but yet had a kind, giving spirit describes Helen. She lived a full abundant life surrounded by those she loved.

Left to cherish her memory are daughter Marlene (Dave) Doram, their children Kelly (Kevin) Wiebe, Doug (Annabel) Doram, Cindy (Mark) Greig and Wendy (Guy) Rook; a son Mel (Jean) Vaselenak, their children Alan (Tamara) Vaselenak and Janel (Benny) Martens; daughter Sandra (Keith) Duncan, their children Shantel (Kevin) Lyons, Nathan (Francy) Duncan and Seth Duncan; daughter Debbie (Terry) Hanna, their children Nicole Hanna (Troy Langworthy), Chris (Stacey) Hanna and Lauren (Cory) Peterson. Along with 21 great grandchildren; Levi (Taryn)Wiebe, Jami (Rustin) Murray, Ryan, Jordan Doram, Jaden, Logan, Teigen Rook, Kyra, Dara, Ridly Greig, Alissa, Carter, Ryerson Vaselenak, Wyatt, Sienna, Lena Lyons, Sadie, Jase Martens, Hayden, Chloe Hanna, Isla Duncan and 3 great great grandchildren; Andi, Bostin Murray, Townes Wiebe; as well as sister-in-law Irene (Mike) Hazuda (99yrs).

     Helen was predeceased by her husband John in 2006, a son Norm in 1998 and a grandson Cody Duncan in 1987 as well as sisters, Mary (Tony) Bogusky and Gladys (Donald) Vaselenak.

Friends and family are invited to pay their respects between 6:00-8:00 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2023, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610, 4 STREET SOUTH, Lethbridge, Alberta.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 20, 2023, at One Life Church, 501 40 Street South Lethbridge, Alberta with Pastor Wayne Boersma officiating. To watch the service via livestream, please go to  https://youtu.be/HzYmd3IHye0 

A private family internment will be held at Mountain View Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial donations to the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen 802 2 Avenue a N, Lethbridge, AB T1H 0C9, Coaldale Food Bank, 1022 12th Ave., Coaldale, AB T0K 0T0, or Samaritans Purse, https://www.samaritanspurse.ca/