Helen Anne Foster (nee Guy) was born in San Fernando, Trinidad on March 15, 1937 to Ralph and Elma Guy. Helen was the sixth of seven girls and two boys so it was a large family she entered into.
Growing up in the West Indies was a truly wonderful experience for Mom. In 1952 she moved with her sister Jocelyn and brother in law, Don Douglas to Nassau, Bahamas to help care for Jocelyn and Don’s growing young family. Mom loved living in Nassau where she worked for the Royal Bank and she talked often about going on dates out to Hog Island (now called Paradise Island).
In 1953, Don and Jocelyn moved to Calgary, Alberta and Mom came to Canada with them. To quote Mom, “it was a bit of a shock” flying into Calgary in March where she could see from the aircraft, the bleak, grey and snowy landscape – especially after knowing nothing but the lush foliage and crystal waters of the Caribbean and Bahamas. However, Mom was determined to make the best of it and although she found it lonely at first, eventually she started to make friends and as winter moved into spring and then into summer, she began to appreciate the beauty of the west and started to settle in.
Later in 1953, Mom met a young Mountie, Robert (Bob) Foster at a party. The story goes that he wasn’t even going to the party but he was the only one who had a full case of beer and fate intervened to pull the two young folks together. Mom and Dad dated for several years and finally married in January, 1956. Back then, young RCMP recruits could not get married for approximately 5 years after joining the force so Dad quit the RCMP and he and Mom moved to Kitimat, BC where Dad worked in construction with his brother. Over the next couple of years, they welcomed Kim and Rob Foster into their fold and Mom loved being a new mother.
In 1958, the rules had changed and Dad re-joined the RCMP whereupon he was stationed in Red Deer, Alberta and in 1959, they welcomed their third son, Scott into their growing family. Mom often said that these were some of the happiest years of her life as a new wife and mother.
In 1962, Dad was transferred to Calgary and in 1963 they were thrilled when they had a little girl, Leslie-Anne to complete their brood. Life was happy and hectic and as Mom said, those were the lean years where the family outing was often a weekly trip to the dump!! Nevertheless, we grew up in a family full of love and laughter and we had a very happy, grounded childhood.
Life as the wife of an RCMP was never dull with our family being transferred over the next many years to Sherwood Park, St. Paul, Coronation and Edmonton whereupon Dad retired from the RCMP in 1978. Mom worked in several jobs over the years including Birks, CIBC, Safeways, TD Bank and the provincial government. Mom was a very smart woman who, despite not having finished high school in Trinidad, worked her way up in the banking system to manage her own branch in Edmonton, Castledowns. Mom was always considered an exemplary boss whose compassion and empathy crossed over from her skills as a mother and wife and she was embraced by all who were lucky to know her.
In 1991, Mom and Dad officially retired and moved to Vancouver Island where they built a beautiful home and they lived in BC for three years. They eventually returned to Alberta living in Rocky Mountain House until Dad’s passing in1997 whereupon Mom moved to Red Deer.
Mom moved into the next chapter of her life making a good group of friends in Red Deer and enjoying frequent games of golf and travelling across Canada and to international ports of call over the next two decades. She was kept busy with the addition of several grand children and great grand children over the next several years who she adored and had very special relationships with.. She had a busy and fulfilling life where she loved having company and cooking for family and friends (she was a fabulous cook). She also enjoyed playing bridge and had several other interests such as flower arranging and cake decorating. She loved camping and fishing and was also an accomplished seamstress, often sewing outfits for those she loved. She was never too busy to help out others in need and will always be remembered for her kind, gentle ways with everyone.
Mom was a very spiritual person with a strong faith. She was very involved with the Catholic Church and made many wonderful acquaintances in the Church. Her faith was her strength in many trying times (including the passing of her husband and eldest son) and that bought her a lot of comfort, especially in her latter years.
As Mom got older, aging proved to be challenging health wise. Mom endured a number of health related setbacks throughout her later years but she always tried to maintain an upbeat and positive attitude even as her mobility slowed. However, her heart was getting tired and on Tuesday, July 30th, she was called home to her Lord.
Mom is survived by her children and their spouses including Donna (her late son Kim’s wife), Robbie (Marian), Scott (John) and Leslie-Ann (Wayne) and numerous grand and great grand children. She also leaves her sisters June, Jocelyn, Patsy. Maureen and her brother Dave and sister in law, Aileen and their children and grandchildren as well as a special group of close friends and associates. She was pre-deceased by her parents, her husband Bob, her son Kim, her sisters Shirley and Toni and her brother Steve.
A celebration of Mom’s life was held at the Sacred Heart Catholic church 5508 48A Avenue, Red Deer, AB, T4N 3V6 on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to a charity of your choice or to the Catholic Church or the Cancer Society of Canada or to the Heart and Stroke foundation.
The family wishes to thank the health professionals for their exemplary and caring treatment Mom received during her journey. It is never easy caring for the sick and Mom received some excellent care from all those who worked with her.
Mom, this is not goodbye – instead it is farewell for now – we will see you again. You will be so terribly missed by your family and friends and you are now in your “forever” home with God. You made a huge contribution to so many during your life and your life mattered to so many and you will never be forgotten.
Rest in eternal peace and love Mom.
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• Date : 2024-08-14
• Location : (Red Deer) Locally Family Owned (Red Deer/Blackfalds/Eckville) www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & (Innisfail/Olds/Didsbury/Sundre) www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com