Obituary of Helga Pfob

December 14, 1938 – Hamburg, Germany

May 15, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Helga Pfob, our most precious Mom and Gran, on Sunday, May 15, 2022 at the age of 83 years.

Mom’s life journey began in 1956 when she emigrated with Dad (John Pfob) from her homeland Germany to Canada at a very young age. Arriving in Calgary she went on to adapt to her new life very quickly, raising three children, worked hard and always maintained an immaculate household. Our home was filled with many traditions she brought forth from her own childhood - Christmas time was magical.

Mom had a passion for gardening and all living things big or small. 

She held a special place in her heart for all of our family pets and lived her life with compassion for those less fortunate than her. A loyal partner and friend, someone you were lucky enough to have on your team.

Mom loved to travel and spent many years vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, her happy place. She loved all of the bright colors of Mexico and was quite well known for wearing all of those bright colors too! 

While Mom faced countless health challenges over the years, she somehow managed to beat the odds at every turn. Time and time again she continued to baffle the medical community as she persevered under the most dire circumstances. Mom was an anomaly, an “exception” her doctors would tell us.

Mom's greatest attributes were love and kindness, grace, elegance and compassion but above all, strength and endurance. Now we are put to task, to carry on her legacy with strength and endurance.

Helga is survived by her three loving children, Juan Pfob, Gina McLean (Greg) and Yvonne Herron; Four grandchildren, she was immensely proud of, Jesse McLean (Annie), Alicia Cooper (Justin), Nicholas Herron (Heather), Bailee Herron (Riley); and the newest apple of her eye, great-grandson Brody Cooper. She is also survived by her extended family, Penny Newcombe, Barbara Golke, Chad Newcombe (Jill), John Newcombe (Olea), Stella, Evelyn and Bradford Newcombe.

Helga was predeceased by her partner, Brian Newcombe in 2018, her parents Franz and Margarethe Slowik, brother Bernd Slowik and her beloved Uncle Hans.

A Private Celebration of Life with close family and friends will take place in the coming weeks. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

We would like to express our gratitude to the medical teams at Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Foothills Medical Centre and South Health Campus for their care and compassion, and to the palliative care team that helped us through our final days with Mom, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 

In living memory of Helga Pfob, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.