Helen Doreen (Leskis) Sandberg, RN, BSN

Helen Doreen Sandberg passed away at home on September 9 at the age of 73. Helen was born in Estevan, Saskatchewan on December 19, 1933. She was the first child born to Mike and Anne (Syrnyk) Leskis.

Helen is survived by her husband of 42 years, Norman Sandberg and her three children. One son, Dr. Gary (Dorothy) Sandberg, PhD, Chilliwack, B.C., two daughters, Lorna Sandberg, Calgary, Alberta; Carla Schmuul, Pitt Meadows, B.C.; two stepdaughters: Sherry Mitchell and Debra Murtagh. Also survived by one sister, Marjory (Duncan) Janson, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.; one brother, Harold (Pearl) Leskis, Medicine Hat, Alberta; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Predeceased by parents Mike (1983) and Anne (1995) Leskis; one sister, Lillian Ladu (2001) and stepson Wayne Sandberg (1995).\ Helen attended school at Old Taylorton, then at M&S Mine and completed her academic Grades 11 and 12 at Bienfait High School, Bienfait, Saskatchewan. She then entered the Regina General Hospital three year School of Nursing Program and became a registered nurse in 1955. Helen attended Regina College in 1956-57 and took first year Arts and Science. During this time she worked part time at Regina General Hospital as a Registered Nurse. Helen's nursing career in Saskatchewan was as a Registered Nurse at Regina General Hospital and as Night Nursing Supervisor (6 years) at Swift Current Union Hospital, Swift Current, Saskatchewan. In July 1964, she was witness to and nursing during the Doctors' Strike in Saskatchewan protesting the introduction of Medicare which was eventually introduced in Saskatchewan and would later on become the model for Canada's Universal Health Care System.

Helen and her children moved to Vancouver, British Columbia and she married Norman Sandberg in 1965. She worked as a registered nurse in Emergency at Vancouver General Hospital and later as an Intravenous Therapist. From 1969-71 she worked as a Registered Nurse at Burnaby General Hospital. In 1973, Helen graduated from The University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. She then commenced working as a Nursing Supervisor at Vancouver General Hospital and worked there until her retirement in 1994. At this time she received a Recognition Award from The Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia for 'Valuable Contribution to the Nursing Profession.' Helen was a knowledgeable, responsible, dependable, caring nurse.

She had strong assessment, monitoring and decision-making skills. She was respected by her peers and was consulted by them on many occasions. She was affectionately known as 'Mama Helen' prior to her retirement. She served on many committees in establishing ward standards and policies, participated in ward research projects and was on The Nursing Procedure Committee. Helen's 40 years of continuous nursing service encompassed many aspects of nursing -Registered Nurse in general surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics, acute care medicine, ophthalmology, gynecology, burn care, supervisor, administrator and consultant.

Helen was an active participant in many organizations during her life. From 1954-1956 she was Group Leader of The Nurses' Christian Fellowship for nurses at Regina General Hospital. In 1960, she prepared and delivered a three hour lecture (with demonstration) for a St. John's Ambulance Course on 'Care of the Elderly' at Swift Current Union Hospital. She was Treasurer of the Nurses Undergraduate Society at The University of British Columbia from 1972-1973. In 1973, she was selected as a participant at the first three day Interdisciplinary Health Care Conference in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. From 1974-1978 she was a member of the Vancouver General Hospital Employees Charitable Appeals Committee. She served as Public Relations Co-ordinator for one year and as Chairperson for two years.

In her retirement, Helen took an active part in the Fraser Street Community Seniors Activity Club as Sick and Visiting Co-ordinator for two years and then as President in 2005, 2006.

Helen continued to belong to several organizations after her retirement. She continued her membership in the Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia as a Non-Practicing member, was an Associate Member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 16, Vancouver (since 1971), an Associate Member of the Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans of Canada Club Unit 26, a member of the U.B.C. Nursing Alumnae Association, a member of The Fraser Street community Seniors Activity Club since 1990. Helen took an active part in her Nursing Class Reunions which were held every five years.

In March 1980, Helen was honoured to be selected and serve as a Juror at the Vancouver Court House. Helen enjoyed traveling and over the years visited the former U.S.S.R. (1977) and several Republics; U.S.A. and Canada by car, Hawaii, Mexico, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tahiti. She went on numerous cruises - Alaska, Acapulco to Vancouver, several cruises from Los Angeles to Vancouver and several cruises from San Francisco to Vancouver. She also made several trips by plane to Reno and Las Vegas.

Following her retirement in 1994, Helen spent many hours doing her parents' family trees and two other family trees and shared these with family members. In 1997 Helen went to school for one day and with practice learned how to touch type. She became knowledgeable about the computer by taking courses and much help from her son, Gary.

Helen had many hobbies which included reading, listening to a variety of music, taking photos and filing them into Albums, watching hockey, baseball and football, figure skating, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and working at her computer.

Helen will be remembered as a positive, caring, principled, hard working, and strong willed person. She was confident in her abilities. These traits helped her survive difficult periods during her life and to pursue the goals she achieved. Helen was cremated. Arrangements were in care of First Memorial Funeral Services.

The service is to be held on September 20 at 3:00 p.m. at First Memorial Funeral Home, 602 Kingsway, Vancouver.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation.