Helena Penner (nee Wall)

1969 - 2013 

Helena Penner aged 43 years of Leamington, ON went to be with the Lord on Friday January 18, 2013.  Helena was born on November 9, 1969 in Mexico to Aron and Helena Wall.  She was the fourth child (first daughter) of the family of eight children. The family moved to Canada in 1982 and Helena was baptized upon the confession of her faith on May 22, 1988.  She married John Penner on July 24, 1988 and they were blessed with two miracle babies. Jamie was born on July 28, 1989 and Angelia was born on November 1, 1993. 

She was a wife and mother who had a huge heart and was passionate about cleaning, cooking, gardening and children.  Helena was the most content and at peace when surrounded by nature and it reflected in the way her gardens grew.  She had an amazing ability to turn her produce into great meals which were enjoyed by many.  Helena had a quiet spirit and kids were drawn to her, and it was not uncommon at get-togethers to see a child on her lap.  The family lived in Winkler for a few years and then moved to Ontario for several years. From there she moved to Banff where she spend four years overshadowed by God’s majestic scenery.  It was here that she found the courage to upgrade her education and amazed us all at how she excelled.  Helena was always a hard worker and dedicated to her work.  It was while working in Banff at the Mount Royal Hotel that she sustained an injury that seemed to start a decline in her overall health. Helena had been hospitalized for three weeks in London, Ontario in September 2007.  She was on life support due to a ruptured spleen. At that point the family thought she wouldn’t pull through and we thank God for the additional years we had with her.  It was during her short time in Regina that she was hospitalized three times in eight weeks and was finally diagnosed with pancreatitis. This caused her to lose an excessive amount of weight.  Her daughter, Angel, Mom and sisters Lisa, Mary and Anna went to Regina three times to visit her and brought her back to Manitoba.  We made many happy memories with Helena during those times.  One memory that will be fondly remembered is when she came for Angel’s graduation. 

This past September she bought a house in Leamington, Ontario where she spent the last few months of her life.  It was here that she developed a bad case of the flu which later developed into pneumonia, which ultimately took her life.  She never wanted anyone to worry about her and fought hard to convince us that she was ok, even right until the very end.  Helena was found laying on her couch gazing at the water that gave her so much peace.  One minute enjoying the splendors of earth and the next moment enjoying the splendors of heaven. 

She leaves to mourn her passing, her children, Jamie and Angelia and their father, John.  Her parents Aron and Helena Wall, four brothers, Dave (Nita), Johnny, Aron (Lena), Pete (Lisa) and three sisters, Lisa (Jake), Mary (Neil), Anna (John), 25 nieces and nephews and the Penner family. 

Funeral service was held on Thursday January 24, 2013 at Winkler Sommerfeld Mennonite Church with interment at Westridge Memorial Gardens. 

Helena, you will be dearly missed by the family and friends who were touched by the special person you never believed you were. 

Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler

In care of arrangements

wiebefuneralhomes.com