Helen Dorothy Hunter

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Helen Hunter, 79, of 936 Shevlin Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006.
Helen was born Sept. 25, 1928 in Manitou Rapids Rainy River First Nation, Ont. to the late Leonard and Agnes Wilson. She was raised in the area and was a boarding school survivor.
During the 1940s, she was united in marriage to Arthur Hunter.
In earlier years, Helen worked in the bush until pursuing and receiving the position of a Community Health Representative for the Rainy River First Nation. She also was well-known as a great fisherman for sturgeon.
At home, Helen loved watching sports and playing Bingo with her family and friends. She was very well-known and a respected elder to many First Nation organizations and to individuals who sought her traditional guidance within the Fort Frances area.
As well as raising her own family, she also was a foster parent to many children in the area.
Helen will be greatly missed by her family and friends in the community.
She was predeceased by one daughter, Marlene Reff; one grandson, Joseph John Beck; one brother, Joe Wilson; one sister, Hilda Wilson; and one brother-in-law, Harold McGinnis.
Helen is survived by her son, Rupert Hunter and wife, Sandra, of Rainy River First Nation, Ont. and daughter, Linda and husband, Joseph Beck, of International Falls, Mn.; 10 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
She also is survived by three sisters, Genevieve McGinnis of Rainy River First Nation, Ont., Jean Anderson of Fort Frances, Ont., and Roberta and husband, John Wayne Sinclair, of Victoria, B.C.; two brothers, Willie Wilson and wife, Carol, of Rainy River First Nation, Ont. and Leonard Wilson Jr. and wife, Wilma, of International Falls, Mn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Oct. 6, 2006 at 10 a.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, with Elder Gilbert Smith officiating. Cremation will follow.
Friends may visit Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Green Funeral Home.
The honourary pallbearers will be Willie Wilson, Leonard Wilson Jr., Dean Wilson, Marcel Horton, George Simard, Shawn Connon, Doug Sinclair, Rick Comeau, Mickey Ryll, and Jamie Laurin.
Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 655, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M9 or to the charity of your choice c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.