Obituary

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Helen Shaughnessy, a remarkable lady whose radiant spirit and beautiful smile beamed like sunshine and brightened the day of anyone who had the good fortune to spend time with her. Helen Marie Shaughnessy of Wiarton, formerly of Hamilton, passed away peacefully at Wiarton Hospital on Monday, April 28, 2025, in her 90th year. Helen was the daughter of the late Thomas and Mary (Epoch) Shaughnessy. She was predeceased also by her siblings Bernard Shaughnessy, Eileen Machan and Dorothy Allan. Helen was loved and will be greatly missed by her sister and brother-in-law Mary and Joe Didyk of Kitchener. She was a very special aunt who was adored by her many nieces and nephews: Nicole Didyk, Paul Didyk, Brenda Marshall, Maureen Shaughnessy, Tim Shaughnessy, Brad Shaughnessy, Charlene Volquardsen, Barbara Martin, Carolyn Machan, Colleen Henkenhaf, Kimberly Grafton, Gary Machan, Kevin Machan, Gerald Machan, Andrew Machan, and Curtis Stoneouse and their families including 21 great nieces and nephews and 5 great, great nieces and nephews. Helen was born in New Liskeard on December 30, 1935, where her father and uncle worked in a logging camp. As a young girl, Helen’s family moved to Guelph and lived on a farm on Victoria road. She attended Catholic school there where she met her lifelong friends Doreen and Genevieve. Helen consistently excelled in school and enjoyed friendly competition with her two friends for the top student spot. As a teenager, Helen and her family moved to Lover’s Lane in Mount Forest. After graduating from Sacred Heart High School, Helen moved to Kitchener and started working at Mutual Life. During this time, Helen lived at the YWCA with other working women and enjoyed many fun evenings with them. Helen moved to Hamilton to work with Bell Canada, where she advanced to the position of Senior Analyst, a role requiring travel all over Ontario. Helen was known as a “Bell Pioneer” alongside a sisterhood of co-workers who became life-long friends. In retirement, this same sorority went to tea houses, joined the Red-Hatters, and enjoyed many lunches and dinner parties.  Helen worked for Bell Canada for 35 years. Helen’s initial work trips across Ontario, inspired her to travel the world. She traveled to many countries including Italy, Egypt, Germany, France, the United States, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Nepal, Hong Kong, Austria, and Turkey when it was uncommon for young women to travel alone. Helen’s trailblazing spirit is evident through pictures of her riding elephants in Asia, exploring the Egyptian pyramids, riding a gondola in Venice, sunbathing on Waikiki beach and of course kissing the Blarney stone. Through all of her adventures, Helen always made it home to spend holidays with her family. You could count on Helen for a beautiful hand-written Christmas or birthday card. Even though she was always thinking of others and wanting to bring them joy, Helen took great care of herself and had a remarkable sense of fashion and style. The truthful and consistent answer to “Do I look alright dear?” is “Yes, Aunt Helen you look amazing!” Helen will always be an inspiration to the younger generation of her family to live a full, adventurous life; to seek joy and to choose to be happy. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Kenilworth on Friday, May 2, 2025 at 2:00pm with visitation one hour prior. Interment in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Kenilworth. Memorial donations to the Grey-Bruce Hospice and the Wiarton Hospital (Bruce Peninsula Hospitals Foundation) would be appreciated and may be made through the Hardy-Lee Funeral Home, Harriston. Online condolences may be left at www.hardyleefuneralhome.com