Helen Dennis passed away in the Yorkton Regional Health Centre on December 25, 2016, at the age of 93 years. Born July 11, 1923 in Canora, SK, she was the daughter of immigrants, Klim and Pauline (Zaplitney) Wolkowski, who farmed near Tiny, SK. Helen worked at the Canora Union Hospital and helped her mother on the farm in her early years. She received her early education at Tiny School where she loved to play ball and participate in field days. She married Alex Dennis of Canora on October 9,1949, and they had two daughters, Zoria and Sonia. Alex and Helen ran the Red and White store in Canora for 39 years with Mike and Mary Dennis until their retirement in 1985. They were active and dedicated members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity in Canora, where Helen was a long-serving member of the Ladies Aid and Church Choir. Her faith was very important to her. Helen and Alex had a large garden and flower beds in Canora on which they lavished much care and attention. She was an avid and skilled seamstress, making clothes for the girls and eventually the grandchildren. Alex and Helen were fortunate to be able to travel before and after their retirement, to Palm Springs, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe as well as parts of Canada. The most important things in Helen's life were her love for family and the joy she had from cooking and baking for family gatherings. Zoria and Sonia remember her strength, determination and all her hard work. The value of education was very important to her and she was proud that her children and grandchildren had all graduated from universities. Her family was important to her and she knew she was loved by all of them. As 'Baba,' she took particular joy from her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Helen and Alex moved to Yorkton in 2006 due to failing health. Helen was a resident of the Yorkton and District Nursing Home since 2011. The family is extremely grateful for the support, dedication, love and care that Sonia and Larry Pearen provided to Baba daily while she was in Yorkton. She was very fortunate to have them so near. She looked forward to the daily phone visits with Zoria. The visits from her grandchildren and families were very precious to her. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Helen was predeceased by her parents, sisters: Annie (Frank) Zarazun, Olga (Joe) Chabun, and Adeline (Joe) Grodzinski; and brothers, Mike and Edward (Joy Trenholme). She is survived by her daughters, Zoria and husband Ric Syme of Winnipeg, MB and their son, Ryan (Andrea Ram) Syme of Canmore, AB and children, Malcolm and Fletcher, daughter Heather (Scott) Miller of Winnipeg, MB and children, Bennett and Kenzie; and Sonia and her husband Larry Pearen of Yorkton, SK; and their children Stacey (John) Pantazopoulos of Calgary, AB and children Nicholas and Noah; and Lea (Eric) Morrison of Saskatoon, SK and children: Isaac, Declan and Brielle. A Prayer Service for Helen Dennis was held at 7:00 pm on Thursday, December 29, 2016, at the Chapel of Leson's Funeral Home, Canora. The Funeral Service commenced at 2:00 pm on Friday, December 30, 2016, from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, Canora, with Rev. Father Michael Faryna officiating, and Cantor and Choir Director, Adeline Zawislak. Interment followed in the Canora Cemetery. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of the nursing home for their care and attention of Baba during this time, Dr. A. Van Heerden and the staff of the Yorkton Regional Health Centre for her care in the last days of her life. She appreciated the many family visits and numerous phone calls. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, as tokens of remembrance, in memory of Helen Dennis. Family and friends unable to attend are invited to sign an on-line guest book for Helen at www.lesonsfuneralhome.ca. Arrangements were entrusted to LESON'S FUNERAL HOME, Canora.
