Obituary of Helen Goldsmith

GOLDSMITH, Helen Elizabeth (Miller) passed away peacefully at her residence, with her husband at her side, October 16, 2010, after a courageous battle with cancer over the past two years, in her 66th year. Born in Ottawa, she is predeceased by her parents, Maxwell Miller and Muriel Miller (Berndt). She is survived by her husband, H. David Goldsmith, her daughter Amy, Kitchener, her son Stephen and his wife Kristen Patton, Austin TX, her son Peter and his wife Jocelyn, Seattle WA, and her son Michael and his wife Lian, Kitchener. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Clay, Lily and Emmy all of Austin TX. She will be missed by her dear sister Carol Miller, Ottawa, her sister-in-law Barbara Olson and her husband Clifford, Minneapolis MN, and her brother-in-law A. Daniel Goldsmith and his wife Leona, Abbotsford BC. Helen was a retired elementary teacher, with a career beginning in 1968, retiring in June 2007. When her children began to arrive, she put her career on hold for 18 years to be a stay-at-home mother to her children. She had a love of music, and spent 9 years as the Director of Music at Chatham Baptist Church. Together with her husband, she ministered in music in various churches across Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia, as well as locations In Michigan and Ohio. She immersed herself in her children, who had either the good fortune, or misfortune to be born to an elementary teacher, reading to them, singing with them, taking them on trips to museums and libraries. In their academics, sports and extracurricular activities she was her children’s strongest supporter and fan. One son complained at one point that she cheered so loudly at minor hockey games that “you could hear her all over the arena with my helmet on.” She reveled in her grandchildren, making trips to Texas as often as possible and sharing Skype sessions with them. She influenced the lives of hundreds of people through her music, her church work, and her teaching. The family will receive visitors at the McKinlay Funeral Home, 459 St. Clair Street, Chatham, on Friday, October 22, from 3:00 – 5:00p.m. and 7:00 – 9:00p.m. Helen’s Funeral Service will be held at Gregory Drive Alliance Church, Chatham on Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. . In lieu of flowers, which will wither and die within days, the family requests donations to the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre, where your tribute will live on to research and fight this monstrous disease, for other patients and for generations to come. Donations can be made through the McKinley Funeral Home or through the Windsor Essex County Cancer Center Foundation. The family wishes to thank their caring neighbours Chuck and Gail Scott, and Don and Penny McLellan for all of their love and help, especially in the past several months. Special thanks to Ed, Berta, Pam, Lorie, and Darcie at Rossini’s for making family celebrations so comfortable and cheerful. The family expresses gratitude to the talented doctors and practitioners for their excellent care of Helen, specifically: at Windsor Regional Cancer Centre, Dr. Caroline Hamm, Dr. Khalid Hirmiz, and Krista Naccarato; at Mary Crowley Cancer Clinic, Dr. John Neumanitis and Cindi Bedell; at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Oncology, Dr. David Sullivan, nurses Cheryl Jarescni, Karen Kennedy, Jackie Opavsky, Dianne Jackson, and Colleen Janssens., and to Karen’s Mother for her daily supply of homemade cookies. In the midst of her fight with this monstrous disease, she wrote this “Prayer of Faith” A Prayer of Faith O God ! Have mercy, I pray ! Deliver me from the onslaught of these fears - These dark imaginings, These dreadful possibilities that are only that - Possibilities - NOT facts. They roll over me like the waves of the sea, And fill me with despair. Help me to realize that the voice that whispers them in my mind Is neither mine - nor Yours. Help me instead to turn my thoughts to You - To remember Your precious promises Given so often and so clearly in Your Word - To comfort and sustain, To defend and protect, To fight for those who put their trust in You. Help me to go over them, Lord, The ones You have given me, Word by word, Promise by promise, Step by faltering step, Until I reach Your peace - Until I am enfolded by the Comforter - Until I am safe in the light of Your love - And I can truly speak the prayer That never fails - "Thy will be done." Thank you, O Lord, my God, For Your sustaining love and grace. Amen. HELEN ELIZABETH (MILLER) GOLDSMITH August 23, 1945 – October 16, 2010 She touched the future. She taught!