BELL, HELEN GRACE It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Helen Grace (nee Gray) Bell; mother of Doug of Golden, B.C., grandmother of Melanie (Greg) Mantai of Aldersyde, Alberta; great-grandmother of Dakota and Mykaela Mantai of Aldersyde, Alberta. An incredibly strong woman, she fought the ravages of diabetic amputation, and severe heart and lung disease for over 3 years. Finally she was given her release at Rockyview General Hospital April 30, 2005 at 94 years. Grace was born in the small rural town of Godfrey, in southeastern Ontario, on February 10, 1911. She was the daughter of a blacksmith and had many fascinating stories of the trails and tribulations, and the good times of that era of our history. In 1927 the family moved to Kingston, where she met her future husband John Bell, at Queens University. She became the mining engineer's wife in Sudbury, Ontario in 1935. They resided in the area for 13 years and enjoyed camping, and fishing the many lakes in the area. She was very active in St. Andrew's United Church, where John was the Elder. In 1972 the couple retired to Stroud, Ontario, a stone's throw from Lake Simcoe, where besides living the good life and traveling abroad, she knitted incredible amounts of clothes for charity. In 1998, the "Tough Old Bird", as she was affectionately known by friends and family, journeyed west and joined her son and grand daughter and family in Calgary. Grace was predeceased by her husband and daughter Catherine Jane Bell in 1991. A Celebration of Grace's life will be held in the "Jacques Chapel" of SOUTH CALGARY FUNERAL CENTRE, (corner of Macleod Trail South at Lake Fraser Gate), at 11:00a.m. Thursday, May 5. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to: Dying With Dignity, 55 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 802, Toronto, Ontario, M4P 1G8 (http://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/). Expressions of Sympathy may be forwarded to the family at www.mem.com 5/4/2005- ID6132326 - Barrie Examiner