Obituary of Helen Elizabeth LAYCRAFT

March 25, 1921 – Canora, Saskatchewan August 15, 2018 – Calgary, Alberta Helen Elizabeth Laycraft, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and a truly lovely lady died peacefully at Chinook Care Centre on August 15, 2018 at the age of 97 years. Helen was raised in Neudorf, Saskatchewan, graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor of science in nursing and joined the Canadian army as a nursing sister for WW II. She then worked for the Victorian Order of Nurses in rural Saskatchewan She moved to Alberta to continue her nursing career and met and married the love of her life, Herb Laycraft in 1948. Her daughter Anne was born in 1951 and son Jim in 1954. She provided unconditional love and support for her husband and family, volunteered extensively in the community and was famous as a cook, hostess and loyal friend. Helen will be remembered for her kind, compassionate and totally unselfish nature and her ever present bright and beautiful smile. She is survived by her daughter Anne (Barney) Mackay; her son Jim (Lesley) Laycraft; grandsons Doug and Jim (Nathali) Mackay; great-grandchildren Leyo, Lisa, Julia and Kai; many nieces and nephews and close family friends. She was predeceased by her husband James Herbert Laycraft; grand son Daniel; brothers Orville and Nelson Bradley; sister Dorethy Boyce; and parents William Percy and Otellia Bradley. The family would like to thank the second floor staff at Chinook Care Centre for their kindness and care over the last 6 years. A celebration of life will be held in the Turner Valley Room at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel ( on Tuesday October 9th, 2018 at 4:30p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of choice. In living memory of Helen Laycraft, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive S.W., Calgary, AB, T2S 2L5, Calgary, AB, T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-243-8200.