Obituary of Helen Sarah Rathwell

Helen Sarah Rathwell (ne Evans) passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on February 3, 2010, after a long, but courageous battle with cancer at the Pasqua Hospital in Regina. Helen will be loving remembered by her husband of 17 years, Dean; sons Mathew and Michael (her M & M); her parents Dr. Jim and Stephanie Evans; sister Alison Pettigrew (James); brother Paul Evans (Betsy); Grandma Evans; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and dear friends. Helen was a gentle soul whose warmth and kindness shone in everything she did. Her beautiful and infectious smile is perhaps what everyone will think about when they remember Helen. Her greatest joy was nurturing and teaching children. She loved her job as a teacher and relished watching children grow and learn. She valued education, her own and others, and passed that pure happiness in growing minds to her boys and to the countless children she taught. Helen was also committed to finding a cure for the illness that took her away from us. Helen rallied friends and family to join her to walk in the Cancer Societys Relay for Life; she determinedly led her crew of buddies around the track with laughter and tears. Helen was born on April 4, 1966 in Aden, Yemen. She immigrated to Canada from England with her family in 1970, and settled in Moose Jaw where Helen spent her childhood. She graduated from Moose Jaws Central Collegiate in 1984. She attended the University of Regina, where she met and fell in love with Dean. She graduated from the U of R in 1990 with a degree in Psychology, and followed it up with a degree in Education in 1992. Helen and Dean married in May 1992, and she began her teaching career. She soon welcomed her son Mathew in December 1994, and Michael in May 1998. She taught at the Arcola East Pre-Kindergarten and Wascana School in Regina, and was a much loved Sunday School Teacher at Broadway United Church. Helen, Dean and the boys moved to Campbell River in 2004 as an adventure, a place she loved and made many close friends. They moved back to Regina in 2007, welcomed back with open arms by her friends and community. She fought her illness with incredible courage, and wouldnt let cancer define who she was. Even in her most challenging times, she wrote about her family and how they were everything she ever wanted. She wrote that she was blessed with a loving family both growing up, and now, with Dean, Michael and Mathew. As we say goodbye to Helen, and celebrate the person she was, we hold in our hearts the blessing she brought to our lives. Funeral service will be held Monday, February 8, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. at Broadway United Church, 105 Broadway Avenue, Regina, SK, with Reverend Jim Balfour officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Regina Palliative Care Inc. 4F - 4101 Dewdney Avenue, Regina SK S4T 1A5. An online book of condolences may be signed at www.speersfuneralchapel.com