Helen (Faris) Van Meer

Helen Van Meer (nee Faris) died peacefully on Saturday, June 3rd, 2023, at Cassellholme Home for the Aged, surrounded by her family. She was in her 91st year.

Helen was a daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother among the other roles she played in her long, well-lived life. After high school, she trained with the Sisters of St. Joseph as a nurse. In fact, she helped open the paediatric ward of the St. Joseph Hospital in North Bay. Soon after, Helen married Garth and became a mother of two children, her sons Bill and Bob. She wasn’t only a mother to her sons; she was also a mother to the many friends of her sons who somehow ended up on a bed or a couch for extended periods of time in the Van Meer house throughout the years. Her kindness, unconditional love, and uncanny talent at making pastry for countless pies and tarts made the house a safe and loving home for countless people.

Helen loved spending time with her family. She was a cheerful camper when travelling across the country to visit her brothers in British Columbia or out with the family and friends to the Maritimes. Many happy family memories were made on these trips, which were documented in the countless volumes of Helen’s journals and photo albums lining the shelves of our house. She adored her brothers and her sister and liked to tell stories about how growing up in a family of seven children she had to protect her share of the freshly baked bread at the table from the hands of her “brat” brothers on the regular.

Helen was married to Garth for 61 years. She loved him deeply. The enjoyed going to fiddling concerts, spending time with “The Sociables” club, working at Emmanuel United Church, and volunteering with West Ferris Minor Hockey for many years. They liked to go strawberry picking in Sturgeon Falls in the summer - Garth would drive and Helen would pick. They also liked to garden, being active members of the Callander Horticultural Society for many years. Helen was a de-facto long suffering fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs through Garth and was happy to watch the games even after Garth’s passing.

Helen was a devoted mother to her sons, Bill and Bob. She loved them unconditionally and deeply. She gave the strongest and longest hugs and was never happier than when she was with her sons. Helen was also a very loving mother-in-law to Tiffany Van Meer and Sandy McNama, loving them deeply for many, many years.

Helen was “Grandma” to Sydney Van Meer and “Nanny” to William and Andie Van Meer. She was also a great-grandmother to Sydney’s children, Jax and Zoe. Helen loved nothing more than spending time with her grandchildren, baking ginger snaps, building blocks, reading books, cuddling on the couch, or singing songs to them as babies. She was a hands-on grandmother since their birth.

When remembering Helen, we will remember her unconditional love and acceptance, her uncanny ability to bake apple pie and raspberry tarts, and a life lived in service to others.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 8th, 2023, at 7-9pm at Emmanuel United Church in North Bay. A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 9th, 2023, at 11am at the church. We will be celebrating both Helen and Garth at this time as COVID restrictions prevented us from honouring Garth’s life at the time of his death. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Emmanuel United Church Food Bank in Helen’s memory.