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Helene (Helen) Hochuli

Helene (Helen) Hochuli "Tante Leni" aged 79 of Rainy River, Ontario passed away on Tuesday, May 1, 2001 at the Rainy River Hospital. She was born on August 29, 1921 in Reitnau, Switzerland to the late Jakob Hochuli and Emilie Lehmann.

Helene worked as a professional cook in Switzerland before immigrating to Canada on June 4, 1964. She felt an intense desire to be reunited with her sister Hermine, brother-in-law Hans and their family of twelve children who had immigrated to Canada in 1961. She loved them so much.

She initially settled in the Fort Frances area at the Gerber farm. In January of 1965 she went to Rainy River to visit her friend Vivian Smith and "never left". Helene and Vivian formed an abiding friendship that endured for thirty six blessed years. She worked at the Rainy River Hospital with the Domestic staff and was employed there for 20 years.

She was a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Rainy River. Helene enjoyed cooking, baking and vegetable gardening. Her outstanding spirit of generosity to everyone she knew and loved was evident as Helene and Vivian's home was always open to friends and family. Her love for Jesus Christ was evidenced in everything that she did. Helene was especially drawn to Vivian's father who reminded her so much of her own father who had passed away.

She is survived by her sister Hermine Gerber of Fort Frances, numerous nieces and nephews and her close friend and companion Vivian Smith. She was predeceased by her parents Jakob and Emilie, brothers Werner, Walter and Jakob and sisters Hedwig and Emilie.

Funeral services were held on Monday, May 7, 2001 at 2 p.m. at the Evangelical Covenant Church. Pastors Gordon Armstrong and Mark Mast officiated with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Rainy River.

Friends visited with the family on Sunday, May 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Rainy River.

The active pallbearers were John Gerber, Samuel Gerber, Markus Gerber, Jacob Gerber, David Gerber and Andrew Gerber.

The honorary pallbearers were Emily Unger, Emily Embury, Jeanette Armstrong, Carol Jensson, Elizabeth Ricci, and Ursula MacDonald.

In memoriam donations may be made to C.S.S.M. Ministries, the Rainy River Evangelical Covenant Church or the Prairie Bible College, all c/o Mark Mast. Box 111, Rainy River, Ontario, P0W 1L0.