Helen Marie Toebosch passed away suddenly at Shuswap Lake General Hospital on Friday evening, April 3, 2015 at the age of 80 years. She was predeceased by her husband Larry in May 2002, her parents Bill and Elsie Mobley, brother Ron Mobley, sister Lorraine Mackay, and her two favourite uncles Frank and Howard Mobley.
Helen will be deeply missed by her children David Toebosch (Doreen), granddaughter Krissy Toebosch (Rikki Barden), grandson Kyle Toebosch (Heather Curle); Gary Toebosch (Merry Smith); Tia Seto; and Tara Toebosch (Darryl Faustman), grandson Jacob Faustman; sister Alyce Renaud (Leon); numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear - some lifelong - friends.
Helen was born in Kamloops, BC on October 15, 1934 to her parents William (Bill) and Elsie Mobley. The Mobley family name is synonymous with Sunnybrae, where Helen spent most of her early life. She graduated from Salmon Arm Senior Secondary in 1952 and worked as a telephone operator for two years at Okanagan Telephone Co. During this time Helen met the love of her life, Lorance (Larry) Matheus Toebosch. They courted nearly two years and were engaged on Christmas day 1953 in Sunnybrae. They married on June 12, 1954 in Tappen, BC.
Four years later they welcomed the birth of their first child, David. Larry and Helen’s idea of the perfect family was two boys and two girls, so they adopted their son Gary, and daughters Tia and Tara. They also had numerous foster children over the years. Helen started her own daycare in 1976 and over the next 15 years she babysat nearly 100 children. In 1990, Helen closed her daycare and took the Long Term Care Aide course. Upon her graduation she worked for a year at SLGH and then Bastion Place. She retired in 1997.
Larry and Helen built their retirement home in Notch Hill in 1991. Helen had a passion for gardening - especially her flowerbeds, any kind of ice cream and the colour pink! Helen was unconditional and she lived her life with dignity and grace. She was a quiet and gentle soul who was known for her beautiful smile, her twinkling blue eyes and her wit. She (and Larry) touched many lives and will be deeply missed and remembered by many.
A celebration of Helen’s life was held at Bowers Funeral Home on Saturday, April 11, 2015.
Should you wish to do so, donations can be made in Helen’s name, to the Shuswap Lake General Hospital Foundation, Box 265, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4N3.
The family would like to thank Dr. Levins, Dr. Reid, and the nursing staff at SLGH.
Online condolences may be sent through Helen’s obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com