Obituary of Helena Marie Pictou

PICTOU, Helena Maria Christina, age 92, of Indian Brook, passed away unexpectedly on June 12, 2023 in Ostend, Belgium.  Born in Maastricht, Netherlands, she was a daughter of the late Matthew Heuts and Helena Meulenhof.

Helena displayed a fighting spirit from an early age.  During the Second World War, she was a member of the underground and helped families and soldiers to escape Nazis Europe. She met her future husband, Ben, in Ottawa while working as a nurse and he was her wounded patient. The beginning of a 50 yr marriage. Later, she and Ben worked together for the First Nations Veteran’s Association in Nova Scotia and had a seat on the round  table for FNVA in Ottawa.  A devout Roman Catholic, she was a member of the Ladies of St. Anne and a faithful follower of St. Anthony.

Besides her parents, he was predeceased by her forever loving husband, John “Ben” Pictou Sr.

Cherished sister to Simone Quaedvlieg; loving mother to Frank James Pictou (Sara), Ann Pictou-Gurley (Terry Gurley), John  Pictou and James S. Pictou II; loving OMA to Terry “LT” Pictou-Gurley, Andrew Brown, Samantha. Tabitha, Ria. Brittany, James Pictou III, Joshua Pictou, Anna, Paige,Johnny,lll, Karen, Lany and Crystal, loving great-over OMA to 10 children

A visitation will be held 6-9 pm today, Friday June 30, 2023, in the Ettinger Funeral Home, Shubenacadie.  A Roman Catholic mass will be celebrated at 10 AM Saturday July 1, 2023 in St. Kateri’s Roman Catholic Church, Indian Brook, Fr. Phil Thibodeau officiating.  Burial will follow in St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Indian Brook.