Orillia lost an amazing woman on March 20, 2021 when Helen Macdonald passed away at the age of 93.
Helen was born and raised in Toronto as the only child of James and Georgina McGilchrist. Later in life, she found she had a half sister and they were able to connect.
Helen met David Macdonald in 1950 through mutual friends and they married in 1951.
Helen and Dave moved to Orillia in 1960 and opened Macdonald Electric as Dave was an electrician. Helen opened Macdonald Lighting in 1970 to complement Dave's business.
She loved to tell stories about salesmen coming into the store who would ask if they could speak with the owner to which she would proudly say: "That would be me!"
Helen was the recipient of many awards over the years for her service to the community. Some of them were:
- Order of Orillia
- Paul Harris Fellowship Award
- Queen's Jubilee Medal
- Woman of Faith (Presbyterian Church)
Helen was a long-time member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34, Orillia Scottish Dancing Group, Brewery Bay Tennis Club and was an over 50-year member of Quota International.
Helen joined Quota Club of Orillia and was elected as the International President of Quota in 1989. What an amazing accomplishment for a Canadian when there were over 15 countries represented at the time.
It was fun to go to Quota conventions with Helen as she could 'open doors' and we would end up in the International President's Room, rubbing shoulders with the International Board and Executive - something a member would normally not have the opportunity to do.
Helen organized the Mariposa Silver Q in 1999 for anyone who wanted to meet during the day instead of the evening meetings of the 'mother club.'
She shared her time, talent and energies with the members and was always there to give a helping hand or a word of encouragement.
Helen and Dave moved into the Atrium Retirement Home in 2017; Dave passed away in August of 2018.
Helen had knit teddy bears for a number of years with mostly donated wool. She sold the bears for $10 and gave the money to St. Andrew's Church.
After Dave passed away, she put the bear money toward paying off the chair lift at the church.
When that was fully paid for, she was in a quandary as to where she would send the donation. She decided Mariposa House Hospice would be the recipient. What 92-year-old is concerned about where her charitable dollars would go?
Helen donated more than $500 to Mariposa House Hospice, so that was a lot of little bears.
When the pandemic hit and we were ordered to wear masks, Helen decided bears needed masks, too. She began making masked bears.
Helen would often say: "Aren't we lucky we don't know what tomorrow will bring?" She was a real trooper last year during the pandemic - even when she was isolated to her room for over two months.
Helen will be missed by her two sons, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren as well as many friends from around the world. She truly was a woman ahead of her times.
