Helen Louise Lawrence of Estevan passed away in Estevan on Wednesday, February 7, 2007.

She is survived by her six sons: Richard (Mae), Lloyd-minster, Bob (Rose), Estevan, Gary (Connie) Wainwright, Gord (Mary), Estevan, Jim (Teresa) Medicine Hat, Howard (Lorelei), Lloydminster; two daughters: Linda (David), Taber and Diane (Ken), Estevan; 24 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren; two sisters: Vert Shentaler, Regina; Dot (Con) Eisenhaut, Creston and sisters-in-law, Bernie Harper, (Taber) and Emily Harper, (North Battleford).

Predeceased by her husband, Stu Lawrence; and daughter, Sharon; parents, Clinton and Gladys Harper; and brothers, Ed and Jim Harper, and daughter-in-law, Loretta Lawrence.

Helen was born on September 11, 1924 in Regina, Sask., and was raised at Turtle Lake, Sask. She attended school at Turtle Lake and Waskegan. When she was 16, she returned to Regina and lived and worked there for many years.

During WWII, she also worked in maintenance and production of airplanes, and in later years at the Sun newspaper in Swift Current and the Consort Hospital.

She was married to Stu Lawrence on October 4, 1943. They were together for 38 years before Stu passed away. During this time Helen was the main caregiver to her brood of nine children and even though the family moved around the country numerous times, she always made these many places a true home for her family. She was used to lean times and could and did make do with very little and nothing ever went to waste. Whether it was darning old socks, recycling old blue jeans to blue jean blankets or the cherished patchwork quilts she made, her family learned to appreciate all the hard work she did to make their lives better.

After Stu passed away, Helen returned to Estevan to live so she could be near her family. She enjoyed attending Day Hospital whenever her health allowed and enjoyed this and other outings with family and friends. Every summer she would travel to Turtle Lake where she shared a cabin with her two sisters. She really enjoyed the chance to go back to where she grew up and loved having her many children and grandchildren visit her at ÒThe Lake.Ó We all have many wonderful memories of summers at ÒThe Lake.Ó

Her family was the centre of her attention and she liked to be actively involved in each family unit and in return each family never made any plans that didnÕt include her in them.

All of her family feels blessed that we were able to keep her with us an extra seven years after she became very, very ill in 2000. She will be sadly missed by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sisters and friends.

Funeral services were held at OrstedÕs Chapel on Sunday, February 11, 2007, with Pastor Mark Bergen celebrant. A private interment was held in Regina on Monday, February 12, 2007 when Helen was laid to rest beside her husband.

Arrangements in care of the Orsted Funeral Home, Estevan.