The Brewer family sadly announces the passing of our dear mother, Edith G Helm (Brewer) (nee Edwards). She passed away peacefully in Red Deer Hospital with two of her children by her side on May 20, 2020.
Edith Gertrude was born May 30, 1927, to Job “Alfred” and Doris Edwards in Coronation, Alberta. The family moved to Lacombe due to Alfred’s employment with CPR, where Edith finished her schooling and graduated. During WWII she received her Teacher’s Certificate and started teaching in a one-room schoolhouse at the age of 17. She married her sweetheart, Dick W Brewer, July 1, 1946, in Lacombe after he returned from his service in the Royal Canadian Navy. Dick and Edith pastored many different churches in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Edith taught in many schools while continuing to further her education. She received her Bachelor of Education at 55 years old from the University of Alberta. After retirement, Dick and Edith moved to their Red Deer home. They traveled a lot and loved RV-ing, especially family camp-outs with their grandkids.
Edith and Dick celebrated their 50th anniversary on July 1, 1996, among family and friends. Sadly Dick died July 5, 1996. Edith continued to travel including places such as South Africa, El Salvador, London, Caribbean, Alaska, and Hawaii to name a few. She liked to play Scrabble and joined a Scrabble club, where she met Douglas Helm. Unfortunately, their marriage only lasted a year and a half before her second spouse passed away in 2001.
Edith was an active community member. She volunteered at Bibles for Mission’s thrift store for many years. At 78 years old she went to Red Deer College to study Spanish and earned her certificate to teach English as a second language. She volunteered as a tutor through the Red Deer Library Adult Literacy Program until she decided to retire at 90. She also loved to go to church and Bible studies. She enjoyed her crafts, painting, knitting, letter writing, reading novels, and continued to win Scrabble games against her family right up until the end of her life!
She is predeceased by her parents, spouses, and siblings: Gerald, Leonard, Ken, Donna, Audrey, all of Dick Brewer’s siblings, as well as son-in-law Jim. She is survived by six children: Richard (Lorie), Judy, Barrie, Bryan (Dianne), Glen, Sharilyn (Enrique); two siblings: Ron (Rosemary), Lois, and sister-in-law Arlene; as well as 19 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, many dear friends, and neighbours.
The family would like to thank Unit 32 at Red Deer Hospital and Bethany Collegeside for their wonderful care of our dear mother. A service was held on May 28, 2020, at Victory Church. Memorial donations can be made to the Gideon Society in Edith’s memory.
