Obituaries

HELEN (Cookie) ROBINSON

HELEN (Cookie) ROBINSON With family by her side, our beloved mother, grandmother and partner peacefully continued on her eternal journey on January 14th, 2024.

Born in Winnipeg’s North End in 1947, Helen was raised on Selkirk Ave. with her brother, Alan Lusignan
(predeceased).
Her mother Helen (Bobbie) was born in Kenora, Ontario: a heritage that Helen was extremely proud of and spent years researching. Helen was closely knit with her mother, grandmothers, aunts, uncles and cousins, who spent innumerable hours together up at the cabin, camping, laughing and playing music. Always together, Helen learnt to fish from her beloved ‘Gramps’, and her love for sports was instilled in her at a young age through her uncles, Mac and Bud. She was especially close with her aunt Pet, who shared her love for family, and incredible witty sense of humour.

Helen had her first born, Helen Jr, when she was 19. Her other two children, Lara and Jared followed soon after. In her children she instilled her great love for family, nature, camping, fishing, music, and sports, and spent countless weekends with them camping, fishing and boating. Helen loved to attend herchildren’s sports games and dance recitals, and cheered louder than anyone else.

In her youth and middle years, Helen played many competitive sports; softball being her favourite, where she played as a highly skilled Backcatcher, and hockey. She made lifelong friendships with her teammates, and spent many hours proudly recounting these stories throughout the years with much laughter. She later had great fun teaching her grandchildren how to throw fastballs, and to play hockey starting as soon as they could walk, and later attended nearly every hockey game her grandson, Lukas, ever played.

Helen attended the University of Manitoba and graduated with an Advanced BA in 1990, with a focus in Sociology and Women’s Studies, continually making the Dean’s List. Helen enjoyed learning about all subjects, including Politics, History, the Humanities, Science and Religion courses, and was a true genius who never stopped learning or sharing her knowledge all through her life.

In 1980, Helen met her life partner, Linda Sherrin. The pair stayed together loyally and with immense love for 44 years, to the end. Helen and Linda went on many great adventures, to Mexico and Hawaii once, camping and fishing many, many times, but most loved by both of them were the times spent in their beloved home with their family; especially in their beautiful backyard. In their home they raised Shih Tzu’s throughout the years, six in total, who they loved and treated like children. The two worked in the catering business until Helen began her work as a Support Worker at New Directions/TERF, where she helped at-risk youth. She spoke fondly of her years at New Directions, and of the people she worked with and aided during her time there.

In her retirement, Helen took up hobbies in gardening and guitar, and grew beautiful herbs each year, and native prairie plants, which she researched extensively and was proud of. She was a true nature lover, who learnt about all aspects of the natural world. Helen also helped to raise her grandchildren, Leah and Lukas, whom she taught all of her knowledge to. Helen loved more than anything to see her grandchildren grow up, and encouraged them to go onto university and inspired them to be as strong as she was.

An incredible matriarch for all, Helen had absolute unconditional and loyal love for all those in her family, for her partner Linda, and for her friends; especially for her longest and best friend, Lynn Lusignan, who were friends since early childhood, and went on many wild adventures together through
the years.

Helen had an incredibly strong, tough, fierce and independent personality. She was a woman with a wicked sense of humour, and a great love for life.

Helen is predeceased by her mother Helen, who she adored, her father, brother Alan Lusignan, and nephew Jason Lusignan. She is survived, and will always be remembered and cherished by her children: Helen (Fraser), Lara and Jared; grandchildren Leah and Lukas Gertzen; partner of 44 years Linda Sherrin; nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and extended family.

A private cremation will be held for the immediate family on January 22nd 2024. A large Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada to the cause of Lewy Body Dementia, or to Parkinson’s Canada.