It is with great sadness we announce the sudden passing of Helen Margaret (Bourgeois) Goyette on Oct. 3, 2022. Helen left a huge mark on the world, through her achievements, talents, and lively spirit. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.
Helen was born in Kippens, Newfoundland, the cherished daughter of proud parents Peter and Margaret (Maggie) Bourgeois and beloved baby sister to siblings Libby, Jeanette, Larry, Norma and Francis.
She was a loving wife to husband Roger Goyette, whom she married in 1960. “Pilot” and “co-pilot”, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2020 and received letters of congratulations from the recently departed Queen Elizabeth II and the Governor General for this remarkable milestone. This November 29th would have marked their notable 62nd anniversary.
Helen was a dedicated mother to Renee, Michele, Gilles, and Jacqueline Goyette. To her four children she was more than a mother, she was, and always will be, “Mighty Mom”. She was a cherished “Nasty Nana” to Dominique Poulin (Guillaume) and Joelle McLellan (Ian). She will remain a great influence in their lives and a loving “Great Nasty-Nan” to her precious Samuel, Martine and Hudson, whom she thought the world of.
Like her husband, Helen was a proud veteran, serving in the RCAF from 1956-1962. The military offered her unique opportunities to travel to far off places like Belgium, France, Germany and her favorite, Spain. She raised her family in remote postings in Nova Scotia, BC and Quebec, finally settling and establishing roots in North Bay, ON. in 1975. After 16 years of being a homemaker, she re-entered the work force and was a valued and long-standing member of the Shoppers Drug Mart team on Cassells St. At the age of 49, she reinvented herself by attending Canadore College, graduating in the top 3 of her class and embarking on a 16-year career as a medical secretary to Dr. Joseph Madden, pediatrician.
Helen was also a skilled seamstress, a budding sketch artist, a master at crosswords and Sudoka puzzles and a strategic crib player, pegging points like no other. She loved puttering in her garden amongst her flowers. She was especially fond of sunflowers. She could often be found cooking up a storm in the kitchen, (her Newfie Beans were legendary). She had an affinity for music, singing and playing bass in a band with her husband Roger in her younger days and later, true to her Newfoundland roots, taking up the fiddle. Her taste in music was vast and diverse ranging from Dire Straits and Jesse Cook to Allison Strauss and Lady Gaga. Helen had an unbeatable sense of humour and infectious giggle which was its own kind of delightful music.
Throughout her life Helen had a love for written expression, stringing words together to craft beautiful images from her unique and insightful perspective, resulting in exquisite cards and letters, entertaining “babblegrams” and poignant poems. Her penmanship itself, was a work of art.
Helen had a fondness for dead trees, pictures taken from the back and a special place in her heart for the underdog. She had a soft spot for animals and was devoted to her many grand cats and one grand puppy, and often greeted her fellow feathered friend, the crow, on walks in her neighbourhood Birchaven. In her retirement she enjoyed cycling trips to Bonfield with Roger, sometimes clocking 80km in one trip, and always fueled by a hearty breakfast at A & W.
Helen had a wonderful life with many amazing accomplishments, but the thing she will be most remembered for was her kind, loving nature, and generosity of spirit which she so easily shared. After her passing it was discovered she was a sponsor for World Vision for over 25 years. She was often described as a "favourite Auntie" by her nieces and nephews and was a loyal and caring friend to many people, always making time to stay in touch, be it in person, over the phone or through correspondence. One of her best buddies was St. Jude and he was known to work miracles for her.
Helen loved travelling to visit family and friends, but nothing brought her greater joy then welcoming her family home. Home was very important to Helen. Home was North Bay, ON. where she had built a life and “back home” was Kippens NL., where her life began. Being back home always gave her a sense of and peace and renewal and over the years she would return there often, either in person or in her mind’s eye. We like to think she is there now, enjoying the wild flowers, salt air and her beloved ocean. Rest in peace our dearest Helen, you are home. May your beautiful light continue to shine and know you’ll be in our hearts forever.
*The Goyette family has started a donation fund in Helen’s honour with The North Bay Humane Society’s new Adoption Centre Project - Homeward Bound. If you would like to donate, please call Brett Greene at (705) 474-1251 or click on the link below and enter Helen Goyette into the “In Memory Of” field. A Celebration of Life will be planned for Helen in the summer 2023.