LIGHT, Helen
Helen Irene Light (nee Tremain) b. Oct 3,1954 d. July 10, 2010 peacefully at home attended by her husband after 14 years of living with cancer. Born at Guelph Ontario and raised near Hepworth, the product of a one room school and a poor farming family with strong conservative pacifist roots. Moved to Elk Lake in her later teens and attended TDSS. A graduate of the last nursing school class of Guelph General Hospital in 1975 and later employed as a nurse at Kirkland and District Hospital. Married John in 1976, taking residence in Haileybury and London Ontario before moving to Savard Twp near Charlton in 1981. Survived by her children Maureen, Glenna, Allison (Doyon), Claire and Benjamin, and extended family including Andrew and Marianne Maertens of Calton Ontario, brother Jim, sisters Barbara (Fischer), Mary (Light), and Ruth (Jakob). Mother in law to Marc Doyon and grandmother to Alexis Helen Doyon. Predeceased by her father Ford and mother Mary. An accomplished musician with great ability in voice, piano, clarinet and accordion, she touched with gentleness everyone who knew her. Music was the great central constant in her life. She had a perfect sense of musical pitch. In early youth she trained in piano accordion under Lindy Baumgarten and participated in a large accordion orchestra group performing in Toronto at the King Edward hotel and competing in orchestral competitions. Her most popular and often demanded performance piece on the accordion was 'three blind mice' in which it was often commented that she 'made the accordion talk'. Later in life she trained in voice under Martha Collins and took up piano lessons again to achieve Royal Conservatory Piano Grade 8 with first class honours. Helen tuned pianos on a part time basis, a technical endeavor that few musicians attempt. She was a frequent participant in community and church choirs using her gifts to the glory of God and the betterment of her community. Helen met the challenges of life with resolve and faith becoming an exemplary wife and mother. In the last years with cancer gaining over her health she remained an inspiration to many, feeding strength to others by her example and witness. Short in stature, tall in friendship, quick with humour, faithful in belief, constant in love, she sought to meet the needs of others before her own. Like her mother and father she celebrated life as the good gift of God. A frequent giver of gifts she gave to everyone- to her enemies, forgiveness: to her opponents, tolerance: to her friends, her whole heart: to every child and stranger a good example: to herself, respect and to all, charity. Even death, the last enemy, did not defeat her spirit. She leaves us this verse, penned in her own frail hand shortly ago after the doctors admitted no further measures to stem the cancer- the eternal God is my refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms. May God grant her soul peace and bless her memory.
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