Obituary of Helen Hughes (Donnachie) McKenna

Helen Hughes (Donnachie) McKenna Our mother, grandmother, relative, friend, and neighbour, beautiful Helen was born on December 23, 1921 in Irvine, County Ayr, Scotland. We deeply regret to announce that she died on Saturday, March 7, 2015 in Winnipeg, MB. Her gentle passing returns her to the arms of loved ones who have gone before: her husband and the love of her life, Vince McKenna; her parents, James and Jessie Donnachie; brother Owen; sister Isabel; three of sister Ann’s children; dear relatives in Scotland; many of Vince’s family; and close friends. Helen is mourned by all who knew her, especially her daughter, Sandy (David Saunders) McKenna; Terry (Susan Kennedy) McKenna; and Kelly (Doug Biggs) McKenna; and her beloved grandchildren in Ontario (Brendan, Liam, Siobhan and Calder) and in Winnipeg (Alyson and Vincent). She is survived by her sister, Ann Maland, and family; nieces Brenda (Rob) and Cheryl (Bob); sisters-in-law Rosalie and Aileen and their families. There are many dear relatives in England, and in Scotland from where Helen immigrated as a small child to become “a proud Canadian”. Cherished friends include the Bruces; the Tangs; the Sheehans; Carolyn; Sheila and family; Mary; the Bernhardts; departed friends; her own and Vince’s colleagues; and neighbours from Regina and Winnipeg. In Regina, Helen was a valued staff member of The Hotels Association of Saskatchewan and the Bank of Nova Scotia (Albert & Dewdney). Earlier in her career, she worked for Hansard at the Saskatchewan Legislature. During WWII, she worked in Ottawa for the DVA, helping to get POW letters home to soldiers’ families. After retiring, she was a volunteer ESL teacher in Regina, and this led to enduring friendships. She took great pride in helping surviving members of the First Canadian Parachute Battalion organize their national reunion in Regina in 1986. She moved to Winnipeg late in life to be nearer to her children and grandchildren. But “home” for Helen was always Regina, where her body returns to rest beside her beloved Vince in the Riverside Memorial Park. As it says on their joint headstone, “Together Forever”. But in our imagination, we see their joyful rendezvous on “Pegasus RA 21h 32m 4s D 19° 24’ ”, a star named in their honour. Memorial Service will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina on Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. Private family interment. Anyone wishing to contribute a favourite recollection or anecdote about Helen is warmly invited to bring it to the service or email it to Speers at reception@speersfuneralchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, Helen would appreciate a donation to a charity of choice or the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, 2550 Broad Street, Regina, SK, S4P 3Z4.