Helena Bergen,
Oct 2, 1898 – Jan 15, 1997

Helena and her twin sister, Maria, were the youngest of eight children, six of which grew to adulthood. When, on occasion, she recalled the hardships of those early pioneering years of her childhood with cold winters and thick layers of frost on the windows she talked about sitting on a long cold bench behind the table at breakfast putting bread into a cup of hot coffee, with cream poured over top, and eating it with a spoon. She and her twin sister were inseparable, sharing everything they had. When their parents bought new shoes for them and were unable to find two pairs in the same colour, the twins solved the problem by wearing one of each pair, so they would be dressed the same.

When she was baptized on June 17, 1917, she recited in German, "The blood of Christ and his righteousness are my adornment and my dress of honour; with which I want to stand before God when I enter heaven." She carried this statement of faith with her throughout her whole life and incorporated it in her evening prayer shortly before her death.

In 1918 Helena's elder sister, Anganetha, died at the age of 29 leaving behind a husband and six children, ages one week to 9 years. She took her turn helping to look after this family and a year later, just after her 21st birthday, she agreed to marry and assume the fulltime role of wife and mother — and in future years she and her husband added another seven children to the family. All the children in this blended family referred to these two mothers, Anganetha and Helena, as our First Mother and our Second Mother.

She thrived on the social contacts while her many friends enjoyed her open hospitality and positive outlook. She aged gracefully and knew each of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren — as well as their girlfriends, boyfriends, and spouses — as individuals. Her family marveled at her inquisitive mind, her generous spirit and her great sense of humour. She left us with the legacy of a strong faith in God whom we trusted to guide and care for her through almost a century until he saw fit to take her home.

(Further information in Obituaries.)