Helen Diana Fossey

It is with great sadness that the Fossey family announces the passing of their Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister and Aunt; Mrs. Helen Fossey after a short illness. Born in Toronto Ontario, Helen led a very full and rewarding life in a variety of communities across the country (Toronto, Edmonton and Vernon). Helen was a wife, best friend and accountant with her husband Ken in the family insurance business in Toronto and later pursued her professional accounting designation (CGA) in night school which ultimately led to her being a senior manager with KPMG in both Edmonton and Vernon before she retired. Helen was the consummate professional in all that she did and she will be missed by many community organizations including the Anglican Church. In addition to her professional life, Helen was deeply involved in the community. She was a driving force in her Eastern Star chapter, had a great amount of fun with her Red Hat friends and she was the Treasurer for St Matthias Anglican church for many years. A notable life achievement was her secondments to the 1978 Commonwealth Games and the 1983 World Universiade Games where she directed the results networks. Her achievements at these games helped establish Edmonton’s reputation as a premier location for world sporting events. Later in life she put her organizational skills to use at Lifestyles Riverbend where she helped organize and run many of the volunteer/resident committees. Helen loved to travel and made various trips in her lifetime ranging from early trips following her sons in Drum Corps competitions in the US to cruises with husband Ken and later with close friends to exotic locales. Helen was an avid fan of art and music. She supported the ESO, visited Art Galleries, and of course, fostered and supported her sons in their love of music and their various musical endeavors! The family loved having Helen come to concerts, and Helen helped where she could, even to sell mugs and t-shirts during intermissions. Helen would beam with pride when Ken, Richard and Trudy played at St. Matthias on Sundays on special occasions. Helen was predeceased by her loving husband Ken (July 1995) and her parents George and Anne Noble. She leaves to mourn her sisters Francesca Arrigo (Tony), Donna McQuade (Joe) and Vickie MacDonald (Dennis) along with her son’s Ken (Marcia) and Richard (Trudy), her grandchildren, Matt (Mekka), Taylor (Amy), Ross Kellan and Karen Seright (Taylor) and two cherished great granddaughters Madisen and Kullyn, along with numerous nieces and nephews who all loved her very much. Helen was much loved and respected by all who knew her and she leaves behind a tremendous professional and personal legacy. She will be dearly missed by all.

Helen Diana Fossey

March 22, 1934 - August 6, 2014