Helen Turvey

An Incredible Life…

One of the most winning-est contestants at the annual Embro Fair (everyone loved her raspberry pies and her smocking) is now sewing, baking, canning, and mingling her way through heaven. Helen Ruth Turvey, hard core bargain shopper, happily obsessive list-maker, mint chocolate lover, mother of two (but ‘adopted’ mother to hundreds), fast and true friend to all, and a wonderful person who would always lift you up when you were down, passed away on May 24th, 2023, just three days into her 95th year.

Helen (born Helen Mitchell), spent her early years as a city girl in Brantford, Ontario. Her initial work experience was supporting the war effort where she worked as a secretary and inventory clerk at Cockshutt Plow Company which had been retooled during WWII. Unbeknownst to her, a handsome machinist inside the plant had become a secret admirer. This machinist, John Turvey, took the courageous step to ask her to the company Christmas dance and the rest is history. Their relationship blossomed. After they were married, they moved to the Turvey family farm outside of Embro, Ontario. The city girl was now in the country where she forged many new life-long relationships and learned many new–and exciting–skills.

The whole community valued from her eagerness to get involved and make a difference. She was a 4H leader, teacher, and motivator, who took incredible joy in watching young people grow during her years of weekly 4H sessions in her farmhouse sewing room. She was known for her organizing skills and was called upon hundreds of times for church suppers where she would be up to her elbows mashing big pots of potatoes and stirring tubs of gravy. She was made a lifetime member of the Women’s Institute because of her many years of service and valued contributions. In her later years, organizations like the London Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House benefited from the hundreds of quilts she made for children suffering from extreme medical issues.

Helen is now reunited with her loving husband and favourite ‘Sunday drive in the country’ tour guide, John Turvey, who passed away in 2007. She is predeceased by her seven siblings and survived by her daughters Jessica (Neil Dempster) Turvey, and Karen Turvey.

Helen made a huge difference in so many lives because of how much she cared. And, although she is not with us anymore, we know she would want to be remembered for a principle she lived by, and a principle she helped many other people embrace, “Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.“

At the specific request of Helen, a small and private ceremony with only the immediate family is planned. Helen will be laid to rest beside John at the Embro Cemetery.

In Helen’s memory, donations may be made to the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy at www.ofcp.ca/donate/.

Arrangements entrusted with Cremation London & Middlesex, 519-858-2467. Please provide your warm thoughts and memories about Helen in the space below so they can be shared with her family.