Obituary of Helen Swartz
We share with both deep sadness and joy that our dear Helen found perfect peace and rest near dawn on Monday, July 7, 2025.
Helen (Lena) Willms was born August 21, 1932 in the village of Chortitz, Manitoba where her parents Henry and Ida (Thiessen) had settled on a small farm following their immigration from a Mennonite colony in Russia.
During an early spring thunderstorm in 1943, Helen’s father Henry took shelter beneath a farm wagon while plowing the field. He was struck by lightning, left severely burned and deaf. The family was unable to continue farming and the decision was made to move to Mill Street in Kitchener, Ontario where other family members had settled.
Helen met Harry Swartz at a church youth group gathering and began a friendship which led to their marriage on September 11, 1954 and a blessed 70 plus year partnership. Helen was a longtime faithful member of Kitchener Mennonite Brethren Church.
Helen’s memory will be cherished by her beloved husband, Harry, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Judy and Ken Dyck, (Laura and Joseph Puopolo, Anna, Rosalind), (Kristen and Ryan Palmer, Nathan and Evan), (Bryan Dyck and Shannon Jones, River Hebert, Nova Scotia), Paul and Cathy Swartz (Diane and Brendan Kelly, Emma, Joshua, Charlotte), (Cheryl and Albert Valkenburg, Joel, Grace and Liam), Janet and Marv Yantzi (Dylan and Hannah Yantzi, Madison and Noah), (Jared and Jordan Yantzi).
In an era of stay-at-home Moms, Helen devoted herself to the care of her family, and later delighted in the arrival of each grandchild and great-grandchild, reminding us often that she and Dad prayed daily for each of them.
Helen was the last member of her family. She was sadly predeceased by her youngest son, Mark in 2015 and his wife Pamela Salisbury in 2014. Also predeceased by her beloved sisters, Anne Penner (2010), and her husband Frank (2017), Katie Musselman (1995) and her brother, Henry (2021) and his wife Marie (1996); sister-in-law Grace Swartz (2023), brother and sister-in-law, Herbert (2021) and Margaret Swartz (2018). Survived by brother-in-law, Marvin Musselman and his wife Glenna.
Our family is so grateful for the care and compassion Helen received from Dr. Catherine Sandor and the entire palliative care team, especially Dr. Claire Harlick, Dr. Kim and the staff at WRHN @ Chicopee, as well as the kind staff at Briarfield Gardens.
We honour Helen’s expressed wish for a private family farewell.
As expressions of sympathy, donations to Mennonite Central Committee Ontario (meat cannery) would be appreciated by the family and may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.
