Obituary of Helen Marie Zimmer

With heavy but grateful hearts, we announce the passing of Helen Marie Zimmer (Bourdeau), who died peacefully at the Chatham-Kent Hospice in the early hours of June 23, 2024.  She is reunited with her beloved husband George (2016) who we believe had a hand in making sure she was admitted to the same hospice room he lived in for his final days!  They lovingly referred to hospice as ‘the launchpad to heaven’.

Family was everything to ‘Hono’, and they gathered often!  Beloved mother to Michelle O’Rourke (Tom); Wayne (Barb), Mark (Lorrie), Annette Jones (Robert), Andy (Pat), Nicole Zimmer-Stewart (Gerrod) and the late Joe (2020) (Tracey).  Mémé was so proud of each one of her 16 grandchildren, their partners/spouses, and was a loving great-mémé, step-mémé and ‘mom’ to countless others!

Predeceased by her parents Harvey and Helena, and a loving sister to the late Raymond (Rose), the late Rita Terry (the late Bill), the late Lorraine Ruta (Ron), late Irene Girard (late Izzy), Joe, and Hank (Helen). Dear sister-in-law of Ruth Ann Bourdeau, Edith Mockler and Sr. Mary Zimmer.  She will be sadly missed by many nieces, nephews and friends.

Born in Windsor Dec 22, 1938, Helen moved to Chatham to study nursing at St. Joseph’s Hospital in the class of 1959.  After eloping in 1958, she took a break from school to give birth to five children in the next six years!  Ultimately graduating in 1965, she later gave birth to two more children to complete their family.  Helen was a highly respected night nurse in the St. Joseph’s Emergency Department, finishing her career in Ambulatory Care and Pre-Admit. She still met for lunch monthly with her nursing classmates!  

Helen’s door was always open, and it was nothing for her to feed 50 for the holidays!  Her motto in life was ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’, and in her final days she admonished all of us to be happy for her, because she was ready and happy to go to her next home. Mom will be remembered as a woman of faith, love, strength, generosity, wit and wisdom, and will be dearly remembered and greatly missed by all who knew her.

Friends and relatives may visit at the Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home, 156 William St. S. Chatham on Wednesday June 26, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.  A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church at 11 am on Thursday, June 27^th. 

Livestream Link For the Mass Click Here.

Cremation to follow.  Donations can be made to The Chatham-Kent Hospice. 

Helen’s wish was that people be comfortable in this warm weather, and casual attire for the celebration is welcome!