Sanderson, Helen Eugenia of Vulcan, passed away peacefully at the Vulcan Community Health Centre October 20, 2014 at the age of 100 years, with her family at her side.
Helen Eugenia Sanderson (nee Holm) was born on February 10th, 1914, in their pioneer shack 3 ½ miles southwest of Champion, Alberta. Helen attended school in Champion from grade 1 to 11, grade 12 in Calgary, and then attended Normal School to become a teacher. She taught school for 27 years, starting in the one room Sanderson School, and ending her career reading to children at the Champion School and Vulcan Prairieview School.
Helen started the Sanderson Army to entertain seniors at Peter Dawson Lodge and Extendicare in 1973, which continues today. She also took part in the Happy Gang at Little Bow Auxillary Hospital in Carmangay. Helen was active in many community groups and the church. In 1981, Jack and Helen moved from the farm to Champion. She continued to be active in the church, the Sanderson Army and Happy Gang, hosted many card parties with the Pay Me Gang. Every year, since 1997, Helen has led the students and staff of Champion School out the doors of school to begin their annual Terry Fox Run. Helen became a resident at the Peter Dawson Lodge in September 2004, and moved to Long Term Care at the Vulcan Community Health Centre in April, 2011.
Helen is survived by her daughter, Edna (David) Clark, daughter-in-law Judy Sanderson, six grandchildren, Christine (David) Robertson, Michael (Kelli) Clark, Mark (Tami) Sanderson, Steven (Tawnya) Sanderson, Blair (Adina) Sanderson, and Jacquie (Kurtis) Norby, and eleven great-grandchildren. Helen was predeceased by her husband Jack Sanderson, son Pete Sanderson, brother Ted Holm and sister Agnes Hall.
Funeral Service will be held Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 1:30 pm at the Champion Congregational Church, Pastor David Skinner presiding. Interment Champion Cemetery.
Tributes in Helen’s memory can be made to the Vulcan Community Health Centre Long Term Care – Box 299, Vulcan, AB T0L 2B0, or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences through www.vulcanfuneralhome.ca.
I have such great memories of Grandma Sanderson. What a great lady she was and she will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Brenda (Pasolli) McCredie
Helen Sanderson was my grade three teacher. I have a hard time thinking of her as Helen, she is Mrs. Sanderson to me. I vividly remember the fun I had being a student in her classroom. Amazingly, I’m a grade three teacher now too. I like to think I have a little bit of Mrs. Sanderson in me. She touched many people during her life including mine.
i enjoyed my visits with Helen at long term care and introducing her to both “Lucky” and”max” as part of a pet therapy program .
Sincere condolences to her family at this difficult time
Andrea Ingraham
What a wonderfully long glorious life Helen lived. She was a great teacher and wonderful person. Our thoughts and prayers to all.
So sorry to hear about the passing of Helen. She was a beautiful lady inside and out and will be dearly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and her many friends.
Edna, Dave, Judy and families,
Grandma Helen was an eloquent, distinguished, compassionate, loving lady who had a very large heart. Helen had a way of making everyone feel at ease, comfortable, important and loved, all the while with a twinkle in her eyes.
I was honored many years ago when Helen welcomed me with open arms into her loving circle of friends. Even tho, Helen has been a longtime member of the Communities of Champion and Vulcan, she was always giving freely of herself and made us all richer for being a small part of her life.
Ron and I extend our heartfelt condolences to all of you at this difficult time.
Please know that Helen is now singing with the angels.
I will miss Helen. During my patrols, I would be walking down the halls of the Long Term Care wing, and she would be singing. It could be 1:00 am and Helen would be singing away, and I would just stop and listen to her, and it would instantly put a smile on my face. Helen will be missed by residents and staff alike. My heart is with Helen’s entire family.