TODOR, Helen Alice (Sandell)
September 26, 1928 - March 10, 2015
Helen was born on the farm at Little Gem, AB. the only daughter of John and Eva Sandell. A child of the depression, she shared stories of watching the crop go in, come up and then wither back into the ground. She claimed that she did not see rain until she was six years old. Shared stories of skies black with dust storms. Though times were hard she was always well dressed and had nice shoes. During her early years the Sandells came to Wayne during the winter months where John earned enough working in the mines to put in another crop. Eventually farming was given up and they moved to town permanently. At 17 years of age Helen learned that there was need of a supervisor in the Rumsey area, at Two Valley View School. She took the job and moved to a community where she spent the next 50 years of her life. The year she moved to Rumsey she met a soldier named Ernest Todor at the Remembrance Day Dance. A year to the day later they were married. Helen and Ernest settled on the Todor homestead and had two children, Judy born in 1949 and Michael in 1953. They worked hard on the mixed farm and added two additional quarters making a viable small holding at that time. Helen was widowed in 1963. Left with a teenager and a 10 year old, she decided to stay on the farm and continue to operate it with the help of her brother Doug Sandell and her mother Eva. Together Helen and Doug farmed for the next 32 years. Judy and Mike grew up and had families of their own. Helen was always a farmer. Nothing made her happier than a drive in the country. New calves in the spring and good crops in the fall made her smile. And a garden was always required. Living in her small house in town was good and she was very happy in her Villa near the Sunshine Lodge. As time moved on she adapted to life in Sunshine and then, later, Hillview Lodge. She made many friends there and often enjoyed the entertainment and games offered. Helen was predeceased by her husband Ernest, her parents, John and Eva and her brother Doug. She missed the time spent with her cousin Etta after her passing. She is survived by her daughter Judy (Walter) Stoneman and her son Mike (Carol) and her grandchildren Stacey, Darren (Karrie), and Becky (Ian) and great-grandchildren, Breanna, Sean, Corbyn and Blake. Mom will be missed and fondly remembered by many. She always wore a smile and had a kind word. We miss you already Mom. Keep the garden growing and the flowers blooming. In lieu of flowers kindly make a donation to the charity of your choice. Or plant a flower in your yard. A celebration of life will be held at a later date for family and friends.
