Helena J. Toews was called home by her Lord on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at the Bethesda Place Personal Care Home, Steinbach, Manitoba at the age of 99 1/2 years. Helena was born to Aron & Helena Toews on January 18, 1913 at Blumenfeld in Molotschna, South Russia. Helena’s father, Aron, passed away in 1922 and from that time on her mother’s brother Jacob helped raise Helena and her five siblings. In 1924 they immigrated to Canada. In January, 1925 they moved from Ontario to Arnaud, Manitoba and then in November 1926 they made another move, this time to Chortitz, Manitoba. In 1939 their uncle Jacob passed away and in the spring of 1941 Helena’s mother with her six children moved to Bergthal to continue farming. In 1942 Helena’s oldest sibling, Jacob, married and moved off the farm and the same year her youngest sister, Agnes, also married and eventually moved to Ontario. Helena’s mother passed away in 1967. On October 1, 1972 Elizabeth, Mary, Helen & Peter moved to a farm on the #52 Highway, near the Randolph turnoff. Mary passed away in 1982. In April of 1993 Elizabeth, Helen & Peter moved to Fernwood Place in Steinbach. In May of the year 2001 Helena was moved from Fernwood Place to join her siblings, Peter and Elizabeth, at the Bethesda Personal Care Home. On August 1, 2012 she once again went to join them, and the rest of her family that had gone on before, this time in heaven. Helena was baptized on the confession of her faith on May 20, 1934 at the Steinbach Mennonite Church. She was always a very hard working person. She spent her time working with her siblings on the farm. She and her sisters always made a huge garden. She did not like to cook and would much rather help her brother Peter in the barn or on the field. Helena was a very shy person and tended to stay in the background when she was around people. Helena is survived by three nephews, Bill (Dayle) Toews of McPherson, Kansas, Arnold (Betty-Lou) Toews of Steinbach and John (Mary Beth) Unger of St. Petersburg, Florida; one niece, Frances (Steve) Rice of Kingsville, Ontario and their families. She was predeceased by her parents, Aron and Helena Toews; four brothers – two in infancy and Jacob and Peter Toews; three sisters, Agnes Unger, Mary and Elizabeth Toews; one brother-in-law, Frank Unger and one sister-in-law, Helen (Rosenfeld) Toews. The funeral service will be Monday, August 6 at 11:00 a.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel with burial at Heritage Cemetery. Viewing will be at the chapel prior to the service. A very special thank you to the staff at Bethesda Place for the awesome care they gave our Aunt Helen and to those who visited her and cared about her.