Helen (Lennie) Elizabeth Chapman

Helen (Lennie) Elizabeth Chapman (nee Paget) passed away peacefully in her sleep Sunday February 11, 2018 at 86 years of age, at her home at the Prince of Peace Harbour in Calgary. Lennie was born in Toronto on August 11, 1931 as the last of 5 children to parents Frank & Mary Paget, along with three sisters Lois, Mary and Dorothy and brother Jack. During her last year of high school she accepted a job at Dent Publishing in Toronto, replacing her sister Lois, who was leaving to get married. In 1952 Lennie married Don Chapman in Toronto, and they soon moved to Montreal, where they had three children. Lennie went back to work in 1962 at Ro-El Furniture, and over the years rose from a Receptionist, to Secretary to Bookkeeper, and then achieved her CPA designation when at Speer Carbon. After her children were adults she accepted a transfer and promotion with Speer Carbon to Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario, where she was Office Manager and Accountant. Lennie retired at 65 in 1996, whereupon she spent a few years travelling the country in her new camperized van to fulfill a life-long dream. Lennie was a very self-sufficient lady much ahead of her time, who could disassemble and re-assemble just about anything. She had a great set of tools of all descriptions, all of which she put to good use. And she wrote more letters than most of us have read in a lifetime. Lennie was a hero to her children, who she raised largely on her own after her divorce in 1965, on a small salary, using the gift of the values instilled in her by her parents. She was a gifted pianist, who always said she had little talent, but her playing of Beethoven & Tchaikovsky in the evening remains with her sons to this day. When her daughter Kim was diagnosed with cancer, Mom left her home and life in Waterloo to spend Kim’s final days nursing her. She never really recovered from that, but their time together was a gift to and from them both. Lennie is survived by her sister Dorothy (Do) Scruton; her sons Garth (Debbie) Chapman and Craig (Nadine) Chapman; grandchildren Matt (Laurie) Chapman, Trisha (Kelly) Barrett, Derek (Kaitlyn Anne) Chapman, Stacy Chapman, Danny Roch, Mike Roch, Erik LaDuke, Sean LaDuke, and Eddy LaDuke; along with a great flock of great-grandchildren spread across Canada. Lennie was pre-deceased by her daughter Kim Chapman on November 5, 2008. A Celebration of Lennie’s Life will be held in the late summer in Montreal, where Lennie will be buried with her daughter Kim. Photos, memories and condolences may be shared with Lennie’s family through www.evanjstrong.com.  In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alzheimer Society of Canada (20 Eglinton Avenue West, 16 Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1K8; 416-488-8772; http://alzheimer.ca/en/Home). Lennie’s entre family wishes to thank all the wonderful staff at Prince of Peace Manor and Harbour, where Lennie lived her last 5 years, and where she was well-loved by all, which she returned in kind to all she knew. Arrangements in care of EVAN J. STRONG FUNERAL SERVICES.  (403) 265-1199

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