Obituary of Helen Gertrude Scott

Helen G. Scott (nee Taylor) Born April 5th, 1920 in Toronto, Mom lived a long and fulfilling life filled with love. 96 Years…of which the last 6 although horrific, she suffered with dignity and humour. Mom the story of your life is not written in a book. It is written in your children’s happiness, in their sense of self-worth and in the knowledge that we were loved. It will always be a part of us and it will make a difference. When people see our happiness in life they are reading the story of your love. You have started the next chapter in your exceptional life. For those of us who are left behind it is hard to accept that you are gone but for everyone who ever knew you it was an amazing gift that you were here. You were not just my mother but my best friend and I will miss you every day of my life until we meet again. I don’t see you as gone but as having become a part of us all in this amazing universe. You felt each of us is connected to every person and every thing on this Earth, that we are in fact one divine organism having an infinite spiritual existence, striving for harmony. I feel the days will be a little less bright but the nights will be brighter by a star. You always told me you were coming back as a duck because as a child not able to go to school you spent many hours at the Riverdale Zoo you appreciated how much freedom they had to come and go. Recently I discussed with you that you might want to change to another species as I would be upset every hunting season. We laughed and you decided that the protected Loon that you always loved at Pigeon Lake Bobcaygeon would be a better choice. Left to carry on your extraordinary spirit are your two children you were not supposed to have. Daughter HEATHER (DAVID PETRIE) Seven Persons, AB., Son BRADLEY (AGNES MENCZEL) Edmonton, AB. and most loved granddaughter MEREDITH PETRIE (MICHAEL PAGET) Calgary, AB. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in the 1920’s, forced to quit school at an early age because of blindness you became a strong, independent and courageous woman who defied the doctors when they told you “No Children”. While managing the Ryrie Birke’s Cafeteria in the 40’s even though your sight was severely limited, you watched a handsome young man come down the escalator for lunch every day. Your girls laughingly kept telling you to come out of the fog for the next half hour. When the fog lifted you were married to him June 24th 1950. A year later I hit the pavement and 3 and a half years later came my brother. A “Norman Rockwell” type of existence, East York in the 50’s was a wonderful community to grow up in and we had our cottage at Wasaga Beach every summer. The courage it took to handle us kids while blind and alone all week while Dad worked in the city was inspirational. An outside pump, no running water, an outhouse, a wood/coal stove was what you originally had to deal with along with kids who thought nothing of coming home dead late from a day long bicycle trip wondering why you were hysterical. THANK YOU MOM Your sense of humour, laughter, love of family and music saw you through 96 years. In 2003 at age 83 you were RUNNING up and down 3 flights of stairs in your 4 level split in Victoria Place Bobcaygeon. Due to circumstances and your blindness you decided to swallow your fear of ``alien territory`` and move West to be close to your kids. You enjoyed Chinook Village and the great friends you made there including the staff. Walking a mile a day unaided except for a guiding arm, at the age of 89 in 2009, life was good until your stroke while in Medicine Hat Regional Hospital in January 2010. Unable to see, walk, swallow without thickener, moved by machine, spoon fed mush, this has been your plight for the past 6 years. In spite of the horrific situation you had to endure you never lost the essence of that which was Helen Scott. Serving your time with dignity, a sense of humour and Hugs `n` Smooches, I selfishly enjoyed every minute I was able to spend with you but it broke my heart to see you have to endure that indignity for so long at the end of your days. Now you are no longer walking in darkness. You can greet your multitude of friends and family in the light for the first time. Not to say that you haven’t always looked at everyone you met directly in the eye. Inspiring them to be a better person just by observing the bravery and humour with which you faced life’s trials thrown at you. The Duke of Bedford Ian Russell (Woburn Abby, UK) shared this sentiment in one of his personal tapes to you as did your friend Florence McEachern, Lady Eaton’s daughter in their visits and letters. Preceded in death by just about everyone you ever knew the transition party your lifelong girlfriends will throw you should be amazing. Dad, the love of your life (Winston J.I. Scott 1915-1995) won’t know how to handle you sighted as he had a hard time handling your energy when you were blind. You can imagine how I would like to hear the conversations you have with your Mom, Frankie Viola (Smith) and Dad, Percival Donald Taylor “Pops”, Platoon/District Chief, Toronto Fire Dept. and older brother Wm. Harper Taylor, sister in law Helen Lee(Hutchinson) and your companion after Dad passed Alfred M. Simpson (2009 age 91). I would like to thank you Mom for the invaluable lessons you taught us over our lifetimes. “WASH YOUR HANDS” is the first that comes to mind. “Make the best with what you’ve got but don’t accept the status quo” is another. Always “LISTEN intently”, “Giving is infinitely better than getting”, “Mind your manners”, “Use common sense”, “Never let wealth and status impress you as actions speak louder than words”, “It’s what’s on the inside that counts”. (Find and encourage those gifts that make each of us special: not star power, not intellectual prowess but the ineffable mystery and beauty of the heart.) Practical with an abundance of common sense, a love of life, family and friends and the energy to put it to good use, you made a difference in the lives of many. Counsellor extraordinaire. While at Chinook Village you told us not to mourn as you were ready to go. You had enjoyed an amazing life. Well I am afraid we will not be able to comply with that request as the world is a lesser place without you in it. A memorial with friends and family will be held in Medicine Hat at a date to be announced. Mom is on her way home to Bobcaygeon. Memorial service will take place at THE HENDREN FUNERAL HOMES - MONK CHAPEL, Bobcaygeon on Wednesday March 23, 2016 at 1:00 pm. Visitation to begin at 9:00 am. Interment in Verulam Cemetery starting at 2:00 PM. Please no flowers. If you wish to honor my mother’s memory she would be so pleased if you could make a donation to the David Sheldrick Foundation, an elephant orphanage doing amazing work in Kenya with orphaned baby elephants and black rhinos or Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay Ontario.