Obituary of Helen Margaret Langlois

Helen Margaret Langlois, (nee Shea) 96, of Halifax, passed peacefully at home on November 15, 2023, with loving family by her side. Mom was born in Lake Verde, PEI, to caring parents Florence (nee McAdam) and John Shea. After leaving PEI, Mom settled in Halifax, and worked as a switchboard operator at the VG Hospital, along with her sister Kay. She met and married our Dad, Hubert, hung up the head-set and went about raising her six children, never missing a parent-teacher meeting, a school concert, or a church event. She worked tirelessly devoting her time, love, and energy to her family. Not that she didn’t have enough to do at home, Mom’s selfless, loving heart spent many hours volunteering, collecting door to door for many charities; preparing meals for Hope Cottage; and knitting mittens and socks for anyone who needed them. Mom would often drop off a bag of groceries for the less fortunate, and each year, would gladly take a tag from the Christmas gift tree at church for a child to ensure they would have at least one gift under their tree. She would regularly babysit for other parents who needed childcare and those children made an immediate connection with Mom and loved her dearly. Mom loved children and they instantly loved her back. These families made a point to stay in touch with Mom, long after their children had grown. For many years, Mom was an active member of the Saint Catherine’s Church Altar Committee and ensured she never missed her assigned rotation to beautify the sanctuary, always confident that no dust bunny escaped her feather duster. Mom found joy in the simplest things in life; sitting on her backyard swing, counting the robins as they arrived each Spring, and just admiring the flowers in her little garden. One year, in Mom’s excitement, after spotting the first robin of the season, she called the radio station to announce the sighting, in hope that others could be on the lookout for her feathered friends and enjoy them as much as she did. She’d often say ‘look at that beautiful moon’; or ‘look at the pretty colors of the fall leaves’, or ‘that grass is so green’. She had, as they say, ‘the patience of a saint’. Mom’s sweet, loving spirit was evident in her ‘hello’. If she came across an obstacle that was not within her control to resolve, we would hear her remind us of the motto she lived her life by ‘You might as well make the best of it, because there’s not a darn thing you can do about it’. After her children had grown and left the nest, Mom decided to enroll in quilting classes where she excelled, this resulted in cherished heirlooms made with love in every stitch. Many years later, with her newfound confidence, and by then in her early 60’s, Mom was ready for a new adventure and enrolled in driver lessons and got her licence, only putting the car in park for good when she was in her early 80’s. Mom was a strong role model, a quiet, supportive leader, yet fiercely independent and found a way to ‘MacGyver’ a solution to any household repair that was needed. Mom was quietly proud of the fact she had no health conditions throughout her entire life, and took no medication, not even a pain pill for a headache. Mom’s unwavering love for her family, her brothers and sisters, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, was never questioned, but always deeply felt and valued. She was always thankful for the love and care shown to her by her kind neighbors. Her lawn was lovingly kept, her sidewalks shoveled to perfection. These special neighbors watched over Mom allowing her to always feel safe. Along with her special neighbors, in Mom’s final years, she was blessed, as we were, with a loving circle of beautiful women who brought comfort, joy, kindness, care, prayers, music, love and laughs to her; of which we, her children and grandchildren, are forever grateful! Mom’s beautiful spirit and strong faith in God allowed her to truly give her worries to the Lord. Her quiet, continuous prayers gave her peace and comfort and allowed her to overcome life’s obstacles, while harbouring no anger, bitterness, or resentment. For all those who met her, even if it was only briefly, or for a lifetime, immediately felt her love and knew they had made a lifelong bond with a very special person. Our Mother’s beautiful blue, smiling Irish eyes, that radiated love right up until the end, will be dearly missed, yet forever cherished. Helen was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Hubert; daughter Monica (Monie) Langlois; sisters Kay Farndale, Lavenia McConnell; brothers Ernie Shea, Joe Shea and William (Billy) Shea. Helen is survived by her children, Bev (Gary) Greenan, Anne Langlois, Fran Choiniere, Pauline (Greg) Clarke and Joe (Candace) Langlois; son-in-law Bob Akin; grandchildren Nicole (Matt), Laura (Hardave), Erin, John (Nicole), Mathew, Catherine, Chris, Jeff, Emma (Tyler) and Amy; great grandchildren Beauden, Xavier, Everette, Kieran and Rohan; her loving brother Charlie Shea, as well as many caring nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 22, 2023, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Funeral Mass to be held Thursday, November 23, 2023, at 10:00 am. Both Visitation and Funeral Mass will be officiated by Father Nathanael DesRoches and held at Saint Catherine of Siena Church, 6476 Bayers Rd, Halifax, NS. Internment to take place on Friday November 24, 2023, at 1:00 pm, Saint Hyacinth’s Cemetery, D’Escousse, Richmond County, Cape Breton, NS. Cremation has taken place entrusted to the care of T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists in Halifax, NS. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Helen’s memory may be made to Saint Catherine of Siena Church, NS Cancer Care Program, or a charity of your choice.