April 21, 1929 - September 5, 2023
(MARGARET) HELENE LIVINGSTON (née Bates) of Georgetown, Ontario, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2023 at Georgetown Hospital at the age of 94.
Predeceased by her husband of 47 years Mervyn Livingston and her three brothers: James, John and Alexander and four sisters: Mary, Hazel, Beryl and Anetta. Loving mother of Melissa (Jerry Staples), Susan (Roy Fish) and Deborah (David Livingston-Lowe). Cherished grandmother of Owen, Oliver, Hannah and Colleen Staples.
Helene was born on April 21, 1929 to Samuel and Melissa Bates and raised on a farm in Melancthon Township, Dufferin County. Helene attended a one room school house in nearby Shrigley where she took her studies very seriously. Her many fond childhood memories included their family dog Connie and riding her favourite horse, Bert. Helene, eager to leave the hardships of the farm, followed in the path of her two older sisters to seek work at the age of 16 in the factories that proliferated in Toronto during the war years. Eventually Helene joined her much-loved sister, Nettie at General Electric on Dufferin and King where she worked for 14 years as a bulb mounter. Helene lived with Nettie on Dunn Avenue where they saved every penny to build better lives for themselves and to help their deeply loved mother back on the farm. Although young Helene and Nettie worked hard, they also had fun dancing to the Big Band music popular in the 1940s.
Helene met Merv at her sister Beryl’s diner on Queen Street in Bolton, Ontario. After dating for a time, Helene brought Merv to her family’s farm where his many skills and work ethic, having been raised on a dairy farm in Bolton, so impressed her parents that they both took an immediate liking to Merv. After a five-year courtship, Helene and Merv married in 1954 in New Toronto at Century United Church.
In the early 1960s, Helene, Merv and their two daughters moved to Angus, Ontario so Helene could be closer to her sisters who owned diners there. In the early 1970s, Merv was ready for a change and took advantage of an offer to manage Hornby Tower Golf Club in the village of Hornby. Soon after, Helene and their three daughters joined Merv to begin a new life on the golf course.
While in Hornby, Helene began working as a bartender and assistant to Merv on the golf course. Helene developed a lifelong love for golf which she very diligently pursued, becoming a quite decent golfer.
Helene took great pride and care in cooking, baking and entertaining friends and family. She loved inviting friends and family to dinner parties at her home. In addition, Helene was very fond of decorating, having an artistic flair and love for Modern interior design.
While in their 60s, and nearing retirement, Helene and Merv bought a motor home which they used to travel to many parts of Canada and the US.
After Merv’s death in 2001, Helene downsized from their home in Hornby, moving to a condo in the Gallery in Georgetown. Helene enjoyed her life at the Gallery, taking part in the choir and developing new friendships. With a more measured pace of life on her own in her new condo, she realized that she had a love for reading, a past-time she previously never slowed down enough to pursue. Helene valued her independence and sense of self-sufficiency and proudly lived on her own with some assistance from her daughters until her recent hospitalization.
The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of the Complex Transitional Care Unit at Georgetown Hospital for their care and kindness during Helene’s stay over the past three months.
Funeral service will take place at Redhill Church, 6150 Trafalgar Rd., Drumquin (just south of Britannia Road) on Monday, September 18, 2023 at 11 am. Interment at the Bethel Pioneer Cemetery (Redhill Church Cemetery) immediately following the service. Lunch and fellowship to follow at Redhill Church. For more information, please contact Jones’ Funeral Home, 905 877-3631.
Donations to the Georgetown Hospital Foundation in Helene’s memory.