ETHEL HELLIAR

Ethel Lillian Helliar, beloved wife of Les Helliar for 51 years, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 14, 2011 at Emo Health Centre in Emo, Ont. with her husband by her side.
Ethel was born Oct.. 20, 1938 in Rainy River, Ont. to Leif and Edith Bye.
She was raised in North Branch, Ont., and attended Sifton School until Grade 8 and the Mission Covenant Church as a child. After public school, Ethel accepted an invitation to attend high school at Elkton, Mn. from her uncle, Luther Bang, who lived near Elkton but had a law office in Austin, Mn.
She resided with the Bangs for two years and then stayed with Betty Danielson, a classmate in Elkton. Her friend, Betty, married Ken Klaehn and the Klaehns and the Helliars have been good friends for some 50 years or more.
After school, Ethel took a job with Oscar and Alma Larsson at Larrson’s Camps for three years.
Ethel and Les were married Oct. 12, 1959 in Emo. Both joined the congregation of the Nestor Falls United Church on March 26, 1959 and have remained members since.
Ethel remained active in the church and currently had served on the church board as chairperson.
Ethel and Les worked side by side at Helliar’s Resort for many year, much of it in partnership with Stan and Judy Cottam and Les’ parents, Charlie and Florence Helliar.  
 Today, this business is carried on by sons Glen and Wayne and his wife, Gloria.
This endeavour gave Ethel the opportunity to make friends all over the United States and Canada.
Ethel is survived by her husband, Les; sons, Glen and Wayne (Gloria) of Nestor Falls, Ont.; two brothers, Milton (Wilma) of Dryden, Ont. and Harley (Gloria) of Eagle River, Ont.; sister-in-law, Linda Connorton of Abbotsford, B.C.; and brother-in-law, Gerald Fadden of Rainy River, Ont.
Also surviving are her granddaughter, Jennifer Helliar (Ryan Plesh) of Winnipeg, Man.; two step-granddaughters, Peggy Sue Duchene of Thunder Bay, Ont. and Cindy Hodge of Vegreville, Alta.; great-grandson, Nate Councillor; and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, Leif and Edith Bye; and her sister, Judy.
Ethel loved to meet people and enjoyed a great rapport with many of the regular visitors to our beautiful spot near Lake of the Woods. Les and Ethel also were privileged to travel to several vacation spots and to own a mobile home in Haines City, Fla. for 11 years.
Ethel earlier had enjoyed the sport of curling and one time represented the district on a mixed team. She also had enjoyed square dancing with the group at Barwick until other activities got in the way.
In recent years, Ethel loved the computer and keeping in touch with the many friends all over the continent through e-mail.
Funeral services will be held Friday, March 18, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the Nestor Falls United Church in Nestor Falls, Ont., with Rev. Carl Emke officiating.
Interment will take place at Norman Cottam Memorial Garden Cemetery in Nestor Falls at a later date.
If desired, in memoriam donations may be made to the Emo Health Centre or Nestor Falls United Church c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com