Obituary of Helen Mae Tkach

Helen Mae Tkach

April 3, 1941  -  November 7, 2024

Helen Mae was born April 3/1941 and passed away peacefully with Family by her side at the Coronation Long Term Care Facility on Nov 07/2024.

Helen was the oldest daughter of Harold and Daphne Early.

She grew up with her sisters Margaret and Sharon, and brother Bobby in Monitor.

Helen attended High School in Consort and while she was there, she admired a Handsome Young Bus Driver named Raymond.

Helen and Ray started dating in June of 1957 and were engaged in June of 1959 and married June 1^st, 1960, and resided in Consort until 1962 when they moved to their new home on the Tkach homestead.

In July 1962 Darryl Edward arrived followed by Brian Todd in April 1964 and Herbert Allan Craig in November of 1965.

Over the years Helen and Ray spent time chasing after the boys while they participated in their sporting events, scouting expeditions, and other extracurricular activities and then later followed the Grandchildren.

Helen worked at various jobs over the years: Pioneer Foods, Veteran Auction Market, Koffee Kounter at the Veteran Hotel, Strands Grocery Store, Veteran Chinese Café, Gorcak’s Hardware, and Day’s Motel, her own Catering business and from 1990 to 2002 Tkach Hardware.

In 1983 Helen and Ray started to participate in the International Agricultural Exchange Association program welcoming young adults into their home from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and England. Many of these trainees are still family friends to this day.

In her spare time Helen was always busy volunteering in the community.

In 1971 when Cub and Scouts began in Veteran, she was the Cub Master which she continued to do long after the 3 boys had completed their service.

She was also involved in many other committees and organizations, such as Veteran Homecomings, Red Cross Canvasing, Monitor Historical Society, and Veteran Sports Day.

One of the annual events, the Terry Fox Run, she was the co-coordinator of until she moved into the Consort Lodge in 2015.

Helen is survived by her three sons: Darryl (Caroline), Brian (Wanda) and Craig (Marsha); grandchildren: Addison (Amber), Kendal (Kelsey), Tyson (Jennifer), Jason (Danielle), Kurt (Serena) and Sarah (Dustin); great grandchildren: Diezel, Daxton, Dreyson, Draeya, Zoey and Blake; sisters Margaret Smawley and Sharon Thompson;  sisters-in-law Jeanine Tkach and Martha Banack Early Bawden.

Helen is predeceased by husband Raymond; granddaughter April; parents Harold and Daphne Early; brother Bobby Early; nephew Douglas Smawley;  brothers-in-law Wayne Smawley and Morris Thompson; as well as Raymonds eleven siblings and spouses.

Funeral Service

Veteran Community Hall, Veteran, Alberta

Friday, November 15, 2024 at 1:00 P.M.

Memorial donations may be made to the Veteran Cemetery, Coronation Long Term Care (Lounge Chair) or charity of choice.

The funeral service will be webcast and may be viewed by visiting the Parkview Funeral Chapels website and clicking on Helen’s obituary and then the Webcast link on the left side of your screen.

Webcast link for the late Mrs. Helen Tkach's service.