Helen Mary Boulton-Elliott
November 20, 1917 - December 6, 2017

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear mother, nana, sister, aunt and friend. Mum was loved by all, made friends wherever she went and was a role model and mentor to so many. She is survived by her children Campbell (Diann), Janet (Arnold), Alison (Alex), Ian (Greta), Barbara (Rick), her grandchildren Joseph (Julia), Danny (Natasha), Mike (Caitlyn), William, Sean (Wei), Jessica (Cameron), Robyn, Robin, great grandchildren Ethan, Amelia, Alexander, Emma, sister Betty, brothers Nelder and Eric, and many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly and she the same.

She was predeceased by her parents, George and Florence, brothers Russell and Basil and sister Margaret and her former husband Duncan.

Mum was born on the ranch in the Neutral Hills, Alberta where her parents homesteaded. Her love affair with horses began at an early age and continued throughout her life, riding for ten years in the Rockies after retirement and ending with a ride through the Assiniboine Valley near Virden at the age of 94. She had such a way with animals and loved being in the outdoors tramping through the bush, gardening or just sitting in the sun.

After the war, Mum and Dad moved to Virden where they managed the Alexander Hotel. In 1952 they built and moved into their own home where Mum had a huge garden. Mum could grow anything; she canned or froze everything and we lived off it throughout the year. The yard was always full of flowers and fruit trees and she made the best jelly.

In the mid sixties Mum went back to work. She had trained at Winnipeg General Hospital and nursed for 25 years at Reston Hospital, 30 miles from home. She loved the drive and always said she should have been a long haul truck driver. She didn't think twice about piling us kids in the car and heading to Alberta; her last drive from Winnipeg to the ranch was at the age of 95!

Mum could do anything. She sewed all our clothes then taught us to do the same. She knitted mitts and hats to give to those in need and you could always find a needlepoint project on the go. She loved doing jigsaw puzzles, crossword and word search and was an avid reader; bridge, crib and scrabble were her strong suits. She was a community leader and organized or assisted with many fund raising events: saving the auditorium theatre, the train station and developing the museum. After moving to Winnipeg in 2012, she called up the Fire Department and organized the annual fire safety presentation at her apartment complex.

Mum was always well dressed and stylish and she loved her shoes! People would come up to her wherever she went and exclaim over them or comment as she passed by. Her church family couldn't wait to see what the fashionista would wear on Sunday morning!

Mum especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; she developed special relationships with all of them and they couldn't wait until Nana came to visit.

After retirement, Mum didn't stop, travelling in Britain, Belgium, France and a six-week trip to New Zealand and Australia at the age of 80! She also made annual trips to Florida and the West Coast to spend time with family.

In November, 2016, Mum suffered a stroke and lived her last year in a wheel chair and personal care home. This was tough for someone so used to blowing in the wind. When she reached her goal of 100 years she held court at a big birthday bash on December 2 attended by all of her family and friends from across North America. Then she said goodbye. She was surrounded by her family when she slipped away quietly. She is free again and we know she is continuing to stir things up.

Mum will be remembered on Monday, December 11, 2017 at St. Paul's Anglican Church, 830 North Drive, Winnipeg, at 2:00 p.m.

Mum loved children and she would be most happy if you would consider a donation in her honour to the Anglican Memorial Camp, c/o the Diocese of Brandon, 403-13th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 4P9.

For online condolences or to light a memorial candle please log onto www.mosaicfunerals.ca