Helen Zelling (nee Gorrie) was born in Grande Prairie on March 11, 1927 and passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, October 20, 2015, at the age of 88 years.

Helen grew up on the family homestead in the Bear Lake area, spending her school years at the Canuck School, and later went on to attend the Grande Prairie Business College. She worked for a time at the ATB, and married Beatty Wallace in 1947. They had one son together (Gordon). After losing Beatty to cancer in 1959, she married Hugo Zelling in 1960, and had two more sons (Jim and Mel). She lived, farmed, and raised her family in the Bear Lake area, until she and Hugo sold the farm in 1974 and the family moved into Grande Prairie. After leaving the farm, they travelled to re-connect with family in both Scotland and Germany, and Helen went on to enjoy many other trips over the years.

She loved tending her flower beds and watching the birds, winning at the casino, a good game of crib or canasta (and almost any other game, too), travelling with her niece for candle parties, joining in on any kind of outing (no matter what), and any excuse to spend time with friends and family.

According to her grandchildren, Helen was every perfect grandmother all rolled into one bundle of Grandma joy and laughter. She is remembered by all of us as a warm-hearted, fun-loving person, always ready to share a smile or lend a hand and always a source of unwavering love and support. She was valued by many lifelong friends from the Bear Lake farm community she was so much a part of, and by the many other friends she made along the way.

Besides Beatty Wallace, Helen was predeceased by Hugo Zelling, her parents John and Helen Gorrie, and brothers Jack and David.

She is lovingly remembered by her children Gordon Wallace (Linda), Jim Zelling (Gwen) and Mel Zelling (Jane); by her grandchildren: Jason Zelling (Stephanie), Stacie Zelling, Jazmin Roe, Robin Roe, and Jocelyn Roe; by her great-grandchildren Atticus Zelling and Craig Faulkner; by her brothers Bill Gorrie, Alec Gorrie (Isabel) and Harold Gorrie; sister Betty Schenk, and sister in-law Jean Gorrie; as well as her many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, October 26, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at the Faith Lutheran Church in Grande Prairie (9610 108 Ave.), with lunch and social to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Acts of Kindness c/o Grande Prairie Care Centre (9705 94 Ave. Grande Prairie, AB T8V 3A2).