Helen Mary (Mitchell) Japp
1924 ~ 2024 (age 100)
The death of Helen Mary Japp of Eston, Sask. occurred August 27th, 2024 at the age of 100 at the Eston Health Care Facility.
She was born April 24th, 1924 on the family farm south-east of Lloydminster, Alberta. They were poor but she had wonderful stories and great memories of growing up with her eight siblings. Her youngest sister was born blind and she taught herself braille so she could write to her sister when she left home at a young age to go to Ontario School for the blind. In 1939, three of her brothers joined the armed forces and she was left to help her parents farm with horses throughout the war years. One of her brothers was killed overseas. After the war she worked as a clerk and bookkeeper in the dry goods department store in Lloydminster.
She met Ronald Japp at a dance and they married in 1949. Ronald had served overseas and when he returned, he purchased land through the Veteran Land Act at Madison, Sask. where they lived and raised their four children. She was an active member of the Legion Auxiliary, church, bible studies and the community in general. She taught herself at an early age to play by ear musical instruments including the guitar, accordion and especially enjoyed playing the organ which she continued to play to the age of 99. She also enjoyed singing and could naturally sing harmony and would often break into song at any given moment.
In her younger years she liked horse back riding and motorcycling, skating and swimming at Cutbank lake, curling and summer holidays at Loon Lake and generally living an active life. She also liked playing cards and games, knitting, crocheting, puzzles and reading in her later years until her eyesight started to fail. She was a great cook and was always canning and freezing, churning butter, separating the milk from the cream and sewing. After 39 years on the farm they retired and moved a new RTM to Eston where they continued to be active with the church, driving the courtesy car and Plus 50 board members. They enjoyed travelling and took 12 trips to the Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, Cuba, England, Scotland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji as well as attending Ronald's army reunions across Canada every 3 years. She said coming home was always the best. Her happiest memories by far of the years spent in Eston was having an active role in all of her grandchildren's lives where they all attended school. Her most significant accomplishment in her life was the joy of raising a family and watching them grow and raising their families and then coming to know her grandchildren since they were a source of happiness since their birth. She cherished family gatherings. Helen touched not only the lives of her husband, children and grandchildren but so many with her gift of being able to strike up a conversation anytime, anywhere and with any age. She lived and loved with a strong faith and an optimistic spirit. She had a zest for life with patience and a kind heart and a sense of humour with a contagious laugh.
Funeral Service was held on Monday, September 2nd, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m. at Eston Full Gospel Church. Memorial donations in Helen's name may be made to the Eston 95 Lions Club (Guide Dogs), Box 816, Eston, Sask. S0L 1A0. Active Pallbearers are her 7 grandsons: Mitchell Japp, Evan Japp, Garrett McLean, Darnell Japp, Gavin Japp, Brett McLean and Tony Japp. Helen is survived by her children: Douglas (Judy), Shelly (Don) McLean, Kerry (Shirley) Japp and Allan (Theresa), her 11 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband Ronald Japp and her grandson Shawn McLean.