It is with sadness that the Phillips, Spicer and Medwick families announce the passing of Helen (Elena) Emma Medwick.
Helen was known as the gentle soul among her siblings. She was the third eldest of nine children in the Giustino and Rose Rapino family. She was known as "Nana" to her family and she would have been 94 next month.
Nana had close relationships with her seven grandchildren, as well as with her fourteen great-grandchildren. Her homemade chocolate chip cookies were a staple request from them during visits. Sweet, optimistic, funny and sharp until the very end, Nana enjoyed her books, crossword puzzles, knitting and her daily watching of The View and Jeopardy. Her sense of humour got her through her failing health issues during the past few years.
Nana enjoyed six years at Sister Leila Greco Apartments, where she met many new friends, as well as rekindled old childhood friendships.
Helen was predeceased by her husband John in 1974 and most recently by her son Rod this past September. She was also predeceased by her sisters Laura, Mary, Grace, Jacqueline and her brother Tony.
Helen is survived by her children: Donna (Gary) Phillips, Lorie (Rod) Spicer and daughter-in-law Brenda Medwick. Her grandchildren: Nancy (Marc); Ian (Leanne); Jill (Mark); Catherine; Patrick (Amy); Jonathan (Farah) and Heather (Rudy). Also her siblings ; Dolores (George) Thompson, Lorretta Comrie and Jim (Rose) Rapino as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at Sister Leila Greco as well as the doctors and staff at St. Joseph's Hospital and Hogarth Riverview Manor for their care and professionalism given to our mother during her time at each facility.
A private family celebration will be held at a later date. Should friends desire, donations may be made to St. Joseph's Care Group, The Elizabeth Fry Society of Thunder Bay or the Charity of your choice.
Nana signed decades of birthday and Christmas cards with "Love and Prayers". That love and those prayers from the family's matriarch will warm us always.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Simpler Times Cremation Centre,575 Central Avenue, Thunder Bay.
