Obituary of Helena Jean Gragg (nee Johnson)

GRAGG, Helena Jean (nee Johnson) 1929–2022 Helen Jean Gragg (nee Johnson) passed peacefully the morning of March 19 in Windsor, Ontario at the age of 92. Helena was predeceased by her cherished husband of 68 years, Stanley Charles Gragg (2021), and is survived by her five children: Drew (Tina Reilly), Marcia (William Mattice), Sheldon (Heather McPhail), Barry (Amanda Stulman) and Paul (Elizabeth Ainslie), whom she loved with all her heart. Helena was the devoted grandmother of Drew, Piper, James, Fiona, Katherine and Clara, step-grandchildren Brian Mattice and Jessica Blais (Eric Blais) and great-grandson Tomas Blais. Helena is also survived by her dear brothers Clair Johnson and Keith Johnson (Dorothy) and was predeceased by brother Murray Johnson (Donna). Born and raised on a farm near Kingsville, Ontario at the start of the Great Depression, Helena attended Kingsville High School, deciding in her teens that she preferred teaching to farming. She earned her teaching certificate at London Normal School in 1948 and met Stan, the love of her life, on a train to Chicago as they travelled to a teachers’ convention. Helena continued teaching in Kingsville, Windsor and Brantford, Ontario until 1963. From the early 1960s on, Helena devoted her time and love to her growing family and community, raising five beautiful children, driving them to their activities, encouraging them in all they did, and supporting her husband through his pursuit of higher learning and then successful career with the Government of Ontario. Helena volunteered throughout her adult life, and was especially active in 1970s-era Georgetown, Ontario, where she volunteered for the Cancer Society, the Suicide Hotline, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Meals on Wheels. She was also an early champion of recycling, working closely with Pollution Probe soon after it was established in 1969 to promote community recycling – long before municipal recycling became the norm. It is no exaggeration to say that Helena was an enemy of garbage and waste, but always expressed that with her characteristic kindness and good grace. Helena was a gifted musician. She studied piano to the grade 10 level, her father paying 50 cents a lesson for a local woman to teach Helena and brother Clair. She taught piano lessons to neighbourhood children when her own children were young, and served as an organist at three different churches. After Stan’s retirement, Helena lived with him for 27 years in Vankoughnet, Ontario, volunteering at the Bracebridge hospital and entertaining family and friends. In 2014, Helena and Stan returned to Windsor, where they took up residence at Amica Riverside. There, she often entertained other residents on the piano and enjoyed playing bridge with friends. She and Stan shared a deep love that never wavered. They lived together into their nineties. A special thank you to the wonderful staff at Amica Riverside for their many years of hard work and kindness, to Brittany Sidaway, who was a much-loved companion to Helena, and to the compassionate doctors, nurses and staff at Windsor Regional Hospital and Riverside Place, who took such good care of Mom in her final days. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate to The Summit Centre for Preschool Children with Autism. http://www.summitcentre.org/donate/ Arrangements entrusted to SIMPLE CHOICE (Wyandotte), 519-254-2585. Online condolences and cherished memories may be shared with the family at www.simplechoicecremation.ca