Helen Peters was born August 24, 1927, to Peter G. and Aganetha Dueck of Kleefeld, the third child in a family of eight. She was baptized upon her confession of faith in 1943 and joined the Steinbach Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church. Benno and Helen were married in the EMB Church on June 16, 1948 and recently celebrated 60 years of marriage. They were blessed with three children, Paul, Patrick and Lori, and she provided a loving home specializing in cooking, sewing and gardening. Her huge garden provided soup greens for many people, and fabulous flower arrangements for church each week. She volunteered for many years with the Treble Teens, the Mennonite Heritage Village and her church ladies sewing circle, and sewed hundreds of braided rugs to sell for her missions project in Haiti. She was also food coordinator for Union Gospel Mission banquets for many years. Her faith in God was strong, and she taught children’s Sunday School for 40 years. Helen and Benno traveled extensively to many countries including Haiti, India, Papua New Guinea, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Curacao, Australia, Singapore and Paraguay, visiting missionaries, extended family, and making many new friends on each trip. One trip to Paraguay in March 1983 resulted in her broken hip and replacement surgery in Loma Plata, which still did not prevent Helen from planting and tending a full garden the same summer. Their travels ceased three years ago when she fell, fracturing her back, and she spent her remaining days severely weakened and bedridden. She passed away peacefully at Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach in her sleep on the morning of July 10, 2008. Helen was predeceased by her parents and two brothers, George and Frank. She is survived by husband Benno of Steinbach, two sons and one daughter – Paul and Vi of Steinbach, Pat and Alvina of Steinbach, Lori and Peter Taylor of Fort Mill, South Carolina; seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren; three brothers – Gus, Henry and Wilbert, and two sisters – Anne and Mary. We, the family, thank God for our Mom’s steadfast example of persevering prayer, and enduring love for us. Viewing will be held at Birchwood Funeral Chapel on Saturday, July 12, 7:00 p.m. with a devotional at 7:30 p.m. and at the church prior to the service. The funeral service will be held Sunday, July 13 at 2:00 p.m. at the Steinbach Chortitzer Mennonite Church, 479 Hanover St.