Obituary of Helen Sinnett

Helen Sinnett (nee Seminowicz). Passed peacefully, attended by her husband on Friday, 15 January 2016 at the age of 81 after a long series of illnesses. She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Dr. William (Bill) Sinnett; her brother Alfred Seminowicz and sister-in-law Betty of Durham ON; her sister Mary Houle and brother-in-law Harvey of Utterson ON; brother-in-law Lt. Col Earl J. Sinnett (Ret) of Ottawa. Also, nieces and grand nieces, nephews and grand nephews Emily (Seminowicz) Roy and Chris with their two young children Jasper and Mayla of Thunder Bay; Carolyn (Houle) Shepherd and Roy of Brampton and their two children, Megan Shepherd of Calgary and Scott Shepherd of Brampton; Janet (Houle) Lewis and Tim of Mississauga and Chris Seminowicz and Cory with their two young daughters Sophia and Iris of Jersey City NJ; and Drs David Seminowicz and Marta Ceko of Baltimore MD. Helen graduated from the St. Catharines Collegiate a year before her future husband Bill. They did nor know each other at that time but met many years later in Toronto. At the tender age of 16 and in support of her Polish immigrant parents she went to work as a legal secretary in St Catharines and then in Toronto when her parents moved. Her excellent secretarial skills and abilities to organise and deal with accounting and bookkeeping ultimately led to positions with several senior executives. Acting as an administrative assistant she worked for over 20 years with the senior partner of the corporate legal firm of Aird and Berlis, in downtown Toronto. During that time she volunteered in the Girl Guides first as a Brown Owl and then as a District Leader and Trainer. After getting married in her late 30's to William (Bill) Sinnett, an educator at Humber College, she worked and supported him in every way through his post graduate studies taking 7 years for a Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy degrees at the University of Toronto in the field of Adult Education. She worked every day and spent nights and weekends editing and typing his papers for many courses and multiple drafts of a lengthy doctoral thesis. Bill’s external examiner said he had never seen such an excellent typing job in his entire career. Bill passed without a single change to his thesis! Helen was also a student taking many part time and continuing education courses at Ryerson Polytechnic and several community colleges. She broadened and deepened her interest and enthusiasm for literature, politics, women’s issues, the Polish language, current events and the computer. When Bill graduated he took a position as Director of Planning for the English speaking Community Colleges in New Brunswick and Helen was hired as an Administrative Assistant to the President of the New Brunswick Nurses Association in Fredericton. When offered a post as an Assistant Professor in the Adult Education Masters Degree program at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish Nova Scotia, they moved and Helen became the Secretary to the Bishop of Antigonish and the envy of the local women of the town as having been given the most senior female position available in the area. The Bishop recognised her skills immediately. Missing family and friends, Helen and Bill moved back to Toronto where she found a position as Secretarial Assistant to the President of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in downtown Toronto and retired from there. Being both retired they moved to St. Catharines where they had both grown up, spending the last two years at Anchor Pointe Retirement Residence. Helen’s health had deteriorated over several years but through it all she was a loyal, loving wife to Bill and cared deeply about her family. Her wry sense of humour and strength in the face of adversity will be greatly missed by all. Not enough can be said for the attentive and compassionate care she received from the staff and volunteers during her time at Hospice Niagara. Donations to the Hospice in Helen’s name in lieu of flowers, would be greatly appreciated. Cremation will take place, visitation to be held at GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL HOME ,585 Carlton St., St. Catharines on Saturday January 23 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM followed by a memorial service at 11:30 AM.