Helen Mary Walker

Helen Mary Walker, born was born on August 17th 1942 and died peacefully on March 21st 2021, fully prepared for her next adventure into the unknown. Helen was born in Vancouver although her parents lived in Yale BC at the time. She was born in Vancouver General Hospital but came very close to being born in the caboose of a steam train. In order to get to a hospital, her mother Jane rowed across the Fraser River and flagged down a train, very nearly giving birth in the caboose, leading her mother to often remind Helen that she was "trouble" even before she was born. Helen tried her best to live up to that label throughout her life. Helen was predeceased by her first husband Robert Stanbrook and second husband Donald F. (Sterno) Hearn, her parents Jane and Alex and many, many good friends across Canada. She is survived by her brother Tom Walker from Duncan BC as well as many friends on Vancouver island, including her very special long-term friend Jack Hyatt, who took on the role of caregiver in the last months of her life.
Throughout her life, Helen enjoyed adventurous travels from Nepal to the Amazon to Africa to several countries in Europe and many other countries on most of the world's continents. She called Vancouver home a number of times as well as living in Chilliwack, Moose Jaw, Regina, Toronto, Ottawa, Qualicum Beach and since 1986, Victoria. When she first came to Victoria, she knew she had finally found her true home. Helen enjoyed three careers: television producer, realtor and, after earning her degree in social work at age 50 at the University of Victoria, working with children and adults with physical and mental challenges. Helen loved the Victoria Y where she was a role model for active aging. She loved hiking, walking in Beacon Hill and Mount Doug Parks. After her 60th birthday, Helen learned to ride a bike and discovered that she absolutely loved cycling. A life long learner, passionate about politics and cats and justice, Helen leaves this earth with no regrets.