Obituary for Helen Wormington (Kopil)
In loving memory of Helen Wormington (nee Kopil), who passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at the age of 89, at the Maison McCulloch Hospice surrounded by her loving family.
Helen was a fantastic mother, grandmother, daughter, friend, neighbour, student, volunteer, parishioner, crafter, and executive secretary. She was traditional, yet modern. She enjoyed live theatre, traveling, talking to family and friends on the computer, watching world news, Columbo, playing cards, Christmas, reading (especially biographies), foot rubs, fashionable clothes, knitting, sewing, baking (her vanilla fudge was always in demand), fruitcake, Smith’s red pepper soup, blueberries, having Slovak food like halushki, pierogies, and cabbage rolls, watching the Blue Jays, learning and teaching and Sudbury. Helen had a beautiful smile, a great sense of humour, and a welcome for all. She was a loving, kind, and loyal person who made a difference in every life she touched. She cared. She did not judge people. She helped however and whenever she could.
Helen was born in Gatineau, Quebec on July 11, 1933, to Elizabeth and George Kopil who were recent immigrants from Slovakia. She had one (younger) brother, George (predeceased in 1983). Helen’s first language was Slovak, but she was a smart little girl who mastered English by the time she started Grade 1 at age 5, and then she mastered French. She did extremely well at school, graduating at age 16 at the top of her class, and going on to Willis Business College in Ottawa, where she graduated as an Executive Secretary. Helen loved working, no matter what job she had: from her first job in a shoe store at age 14, to executive secretarial jobs at the Northern and Central Gas Company, and especially with the Sudbury Regional Development Corporation where she was secretary to chairs Tom Flood and then Spike Hennessy, both of whom inspired her. She said she learned that she could do anything she set her mind to.
A volunteer, Helen was treasurer of the Hilltop Seniors’ Craft Club for 25 years; worked with the Red Cross; taught friends how to use email and the Internet; volunteered at her church, and more. Helen felt forever blessed that she became a member of the Church of the Ascension; she felt a sense of spirituality, connection, and peace. Her faith was strong.
Helen married Spike Wormington (predeceased in 2003) in September 1953, and together they raised their six children on Lansing Avenue, all born within a span of 11 years: Donna, of Cobourg (husband Bill Wyatt, predeceased 2012); Susan, of Ottawa (husband Tino Colussi); David, of Calgary (predeceased in 2016) (wife Maria Soumarokova); Grant, of Ottawa (wife Lorraine Chase-Wormington); Barry, of Ottawa (predeceased in 2020); and James “Spike Jr.”, of Sudbury. James has been a great help to Helen these past years especially, and she was always grateful to him for that. Helen was proud of all her children; her only wish was that everyone would have a good life and find love and happiness. She was always there when we needed her – she was the best of mothers and would sacrifice anything for her children. We will miss her beyond measure.
Helen was also a proud grandmother to Andrew Wyatt, of Wellington (wife Stevie, great-grandkids Joni and Bram); Michael Wyatt, of Port Hope; Judi Wyatt, of Port Hope (great-grandkids Avery, Harrison and Naomi and their dad, Ken Bell); Karyn Wyatt, of Newmarket (partner Tim Wardle, great-grandkids Carson and Teagan); Anna, of Calgary; Brendan Chase, Greely (wife Megan, great-grandkids Abigail and Warryn); Taylor Wormington of Ottawa; Hayley Wormington of Ottawa, and her grand-dog Sunshine (James’ dog). Each of her grandchildren had their own special relationship with their Grandmother Helen, and they mourn her loss. Helen will also be missed by her sister-in-law Rose Kopil Kanigan of Kanata, and her nieces Lisa Kopil, Sharon Kopil, and Janne Hackl.
And then there are her many friends, whom she dearly loved and appreciated: Yvonne, Judy, Ula, Shirley, Leianne, Lynn & Bill, Marie, Eric & Linda, Pat & Mike, Maurice & Monique, Bishop Anne, Carmen, Val, Adie, Betty, Cecile, and so many more including the Craft Club gang. These wonderful people were so good to Helen, and she very much appreciated their many kindnesses, particularly as her health was failing.
Helen’s favourite places to donate were the Church of the Ascension, The Kidney Foundation, and Maison McCulloch Hospice, where Helen spent her final two weeks. She was so grateful for the love and care she received from the wonderful angels who work there, and we could not have asked for better. Thank you to all of you – you made a difference during Helen’s last days. She was at peace.
A memorial service will be held at Church of the Ascension, 1476 Sparks Street, Sudbury on Saturday, August 13, 2022, 11:00 a.m. with the Reverend Jeff Hooper officiating. Interment at a later date in the Wormington plot in the Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa. Arrangements entrusted to the Lougheed Funeral Home. For donations or messages of condolence www.lougheedfuneralhomes.com.
Helen was a fantastic mother, grandmother, daughter, friend, neighbour, student, volunteer, parishioner, crafter, and executive secretary. She was traditional, yet modern. She enjoyed live theatre, traveling, talking to family and friends on the computer, watching world news, Columbo, playing cards, Christmas, reading (especially biographies), foot rubs, fashionable clothes, knitting, sewing, baking (her vanilla fudge was always in demand), fruitcake, Smith’s red pepper soup, blueberries, having Slovak food like halushki, pierogies, and cabbage rolls, watching the Blue Jays, learning and teaching and Sudbury. Helen had a beautiful smile, a great sense of humour, and a welcome for all. She was a loving, kind, and loyal person who made a difference in every life she touched. She cared. She did not judge people. She helped however and whenever she could.
Helen was born in Gatineau, Quebec on July 11, 1933, to Elizabeth and George Kopil who were recent immigrants from Slovakia. She had one (younger) brother, George (predeceased in 1983). Helen’s first language was Slovak, but she was a smart little girl who mastered English by the time she started Grade 1 at age 5, and then she mastered French. She did extremely well at school, graduating at age 16 at the top of her class, and going on to Willis Business College in Ottawa, where she graduated as an Executive Secretary. Helen loved working, no matter what job she had: from her first job in a shoe store at age 14, to executive secretarial jobs at the Northern and Central Gas Company, and especially with the Sudbury Regional Development Corporation where she was secretary to chairs Tom Flood and then Spike Hennessy, both of whom inspired her. She said she learned that she could do anything she set her mind to.
A volunteer, Helen was treasurer of the Hilltop Seniors’ Craft Club for 25 years; worked with the Red Cross; taught friends how to use email and the Internet; volunteered at her church, and more. Helen felt forever blessed that she became a member of the Church of the Ascension; she felt a sense of spirituality, connection, and peace. Her faith was strong.
Helen married Spike Wormington (predeceased in 2003) in September 1953, and together they raised their six children on Lansing Avenue, all born within a span of 11 years: Donna, of Cobourg (husband Bill Wyatt, predeceased 2012); Susan, of Ottawa (husband Tino Colussi); David, of Calgary (predeceased in 2016) (wife Maria Soumarokova); Grant, of Ottawa (wife Lorraine Chase-Wormington); Barry, of Ottawa (predeceased in 2020); and James “Spike Jr.”, of Sudbury. James has been a great help to Helen these past years especially, and she was always grateful to him for that. Helen was proud of all her children; her only wish was that everyone would have a good life and find love and happiness. She was always there when we needed her – she was the best of mothers and would sacrifice anything for her children. We will miss her beyond measure.
Helen was also a proud grandmother to Andrew Wyatt, of Wellington (wife Stevie, great-grandkids Joni and Bram); Michael Wyatt, of Port Hope; Judi Wyatt, of Port Hope (great-grandkids Avery, Harrison and Naomi and their dad, Ken Bell); Karyn Wyatt, of Newmarket (partner Tim Wardle, great-grandkids Carson and Teagan); Anna, of Calgary; Brendan Chase, Greely (wife Megan, great-grandkids Abigail and Warryn); Taylor Wormington of Ottawa; Hayley Wormington of Ottawa, and her grand-dog Sunshine (James’ dog). Each of her grandchildren had their own special relationship with their Grandmother Helen, and they mourn her loss. Helen will also be missed by her sister-in-law Rose Kopil Kanigan of Kanata, and her nieces Lisa Kopil, Sharon Kopil, and Janne Hackl.
And then there are her many friends, whom she dearly loved and appreciated: Yvonne, Judy, Ula, Shirley, Leianne, Lynn & Bill, Marie, Eric & Linda, Pat & Mike, Maurice & Monique, Bishop Anne, Carmen, Val, Adie, Betty, Cecile, and so many more including the Craft Club gang. These wonderful people were so good to Helen, and she very much appreciated their many kindnesses, particularly as her health was failing.
Helen’s favourite places to donate were the Church of the Ascension, The Kidney Foundation, and Maison McCulloch Hospice, where Helen spent her final two weeks. She was so grateful for the love and care she received from the wonderful angels who work there, and we could not have asked for better. Thank you to all of you – you made a difference during Helen’s last days. She was at peace.
A memorial service will be held at Church of the Ascension, 1476 Sparks Street, Sudbury on Saturday, August 13, 2022, 11:00 a.m. with the Reverend Jeff Hooper officiating. Interment at a later date in the Wormington plot in the Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa. Arrangements entrusted to the Lougheed Funeral Home. For donations or messages of condolence www.lougheedfuneralhomes.com.