Helen Louise Bochonko

Helen Bochonko (née Hodgins) was born on May 5th, 1941, in Flint, Michigan to William and Margaret Hodgins. Helen graduated from Flint’s Central High School in 1959. She entered Flint College of the University of Michigan (now the University of Michigan-Flint) and went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics in 1964 and a Master of Arts in Education in 1968 from the University of Michigan — Ann Arbor campus.

Before entering college, Helen embarked on a multi-week, multi-country European bicycling tour, which was going very well until she had an emergency appendectomy in Italy. After a telegram was sent to inform her family of the operation and ask that $500 be sent to the hospital in Rome, she rejoined the tour in France after a quick recovery. Travel was a passion for her, and while in college she traveled extensively through Mexico, Central, and South America, studying Spanish and acquiring a life-long love for the art and wildlife of those regions.

Helen was also interested in astronomy. While in high school, she wrote the Skies Over Flint column on behalf of Flint’s Longway Planetarium, which was published in The Flint Journal newspaper for many years in the early 60s. It was this interest in astronomy that eventually led to her meeting Richard Bochonko at the University of Michigan, where he was a graduate student. They met in the Astronomy library, and in that first conversation Richard famously asked, “Are you married?” She answered, “No”, and they eventually started dating and married in December of 1965. Helen taught math at a local high school while Richard completed his Doctoral studies, and in August of 1970 the couple moved to Winnipeg when Richard accepted a faculty position at the University of Manitoba. Shortly thereafter, their daughter Coca was born, and in 1972, their son Thor.

Helen was a devoted mother, with a lifelong passion for early childhood education. She enrolled both children in Suzuki violin lessons and French immersion. She, too, continued to explore many different languages and creative arts, with additional study of Spanish and French high on the list as well as painting, weaving, and ceramics. She also had incredible recall of rhymes and poetry from children’s literature, often breaking into verse when the situation called for it.

An enthusiastic learner, Helen took a computers in education course at the University of Manitoba in 1980 from Harvey Williams, who immediately offered her a job in the computer lab for the Faculty of Education. She worked as the lab’s coordinator until her retirement in 2003. Across her many years at the University, Helen mentored countless teachers and developed lifelong friendships with both colleagues and students, and in 2000, Helen was recognized as an Apple (Computers) Distinguished Educator.

Upon retirement, Helen and Richard moved to Victoria, British Columbia. They led busy lives, taking classes at the YMCA, having coffee at Ogden Point, meeting friends for chocolate treats on Fort Street, and attending Cafe Scientifique lectures among many other activities. They enjoyed travel, with trips to New Zealand, Alaska, and Europe being highlights, as well as regular travel to North Carolina and Minnesota to visit Thor (and wife Sona von Hunke) and Coca (and husband Mark Springer). Helen and Richard were overjoyed with the birth of granddaughter, Petra, and enjoyed many hours of watching her grow and develop through video calls and in-person visits.

Helen was also a devoted and loving spouse. When Richard was diagnosed with ALS in 2013, Helen tirelessly cared for him until his passing less than two years later. Now without Richard, Helen carried on attending classes at the YMCA, where she developed new friendships. She became an avid attendee and supporter of the Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera, and definitely continued gathering for chocolate treats at Chocolat & Co. She also kept traveling, with major trips to the Galapagos Islands, Paris (with granddaughter Petra), Haida Gwaii, and most recently to the Black Forest region of Germany with the entire family to visit dear friends.

It’s easy to see that family and friendships were paramount in Helen’s life, and along with a love for travel, learning, and dark chocolate, hers was a life very well lived.

The family would like to thank Dr. Timothy Troughton and the palliative care teams at VIHA. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to a cause of your choice in her memory. A Celebration of Life will be held on November 26th, 2026, in Victoria.