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Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario. |
Helen Ringler
1922 - 2011 (88 years)-
Name Helen Ringler Born 29 Nov 1922 [1, 2, 3] Gender Female Name Helen O'Krafka Occupation Dominion Woollen Mill, Hespeler, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada 
[2] laborer Eby ID Number Waterloo-53607 Died 30 Mar 2011 [2, 3] Buried New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [2, 3] Person ID I53607 Generations Last Modified 10 Jul 2025
Father Charles Ringler, b. 10 Oct 1898, , Ontario, Canada , d. 1976 (Age 77 years) Mother Ida May Dickson, b. 26 Nov 1899, , Ontario, Canada , d. 1975 (Age 75 years) Family ID F23195 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Harry Robert "Steve" O'Krafka, b. 10 Jul 1917, d. 27 Sep 1990 (Age 73 years) Children 1. Sharon O'Krafka 2. Dana O'Krafka 3. Katherine O'Krafka 4. Steven O'Krafka 5. Paul O'Krafka 6. Peter Douglas O'Krafka, b. 19 Mar 1952, d. 5 Jan 2011 (Age 58 years) Last Modified 10 Jul 2025 Family ID F22831 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Notes - O'KRAFKA, Helen November 29, 1922 - March 30, 2011 We lost a wonderful lady and heaven won a new angel just after midnight on Wednesday, March 30th. Helen Lillian O'Krafka (Ringler) passed peacefully into God's loving arms. She joins her husband Harry "Steve" (1990), her sister Beatrice Stephenson, her son Peter (January 2011), her parents Charlie and Ida Ringler and many brothers and sisters-in-law. Left on earth to celebrate her life and mourn her death are her children Sharon (Dana Anderson), Katherine (John Collins), Steve (Linda), Paul (Dianne) and daughter-in-law Debbie (Peter). Helen also leaves 16 grand- children and 13 great-grandchildren with two on the way in the next six weeks. Helen will be remembered as a good neighbour and a good friend to many in the neighbourhoods where she lived. These include: Hespeler; Eagle Lane on Puslinch Lake, Doral Villas in Clearwater Florida and Apple Blossom at St. Joseph's Health Centre in Guelph. Helen's first job was at Dominion Woollens Mill. It was here that she met her husband whom she married while he was on a brief leave from WWII. Most of her adult life Helen was a homemaker. She worked at the Hostess Potato Chip Factory, the Hespeler Public School and O'Krafka Brothers. Helen received strong support from her church family at St. James Anglican Church in Hespeler, especially the Reverend George Ferris in recent years. She enjoyed the company of the Fellowship Club where she and Steve hosted annually for many years for a summer barbeque. In retirement, Helen and Steve added on to their cottage at Puslinch Lake. It was the family and neighbourhood gathering centre for most of the summer. Helen enjoyed swimming and water skiing but most of all she enjoyed cruising the lake on her pontoon boat, usually with many grandchildren in tow. She and Steve spent about 20 winters in Florida in their winter home at Doral Villas in Clearwater. They had another group of good friends there. Together they spent time going to Flea Markets, shopping in the big malls, swimming, golfing, playing pool, playing cards, visiting and riding their three-wheel bikes. Friends and family from Canada were always welcome and they enjoyed the visits of many guests. Helen's last stop and last home was St. Joseph's Health Centre in Guelph. She moved there on September 22, 2004. The facilities were brand new and lovely but more importantly the staff continued the more than 100 year history and tradition of caring of the Sisters of St. Joseph. They were her caregivers, but much more than that they were surrogate family to Helen. The O'Krafka family are extremely thankful to all associated with St. Joseph's and especially the wonderful staff who cared for and loved our mother on Apple Blossom. You are the best. Thank You. Helen's life will be celebrated on Friday, April 1st and Saturday, April 2nd. Her memory will last for ever. Memories can be shared at the Lounsbury Funeral Home, 1766 Franklin Boulevard, Cambridge on Friday, April 1st from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 2nd at St. James Anglican Church, 520 Ellis Road, Cambridge at 11 a.m. with Father Mario Hryniewicz officiating. Donations in memory of Helen can be made to St. Joseph's Health Centre, Guelph or the St. James Anglican Church Roof Fund. Condolences/Donations/Directions www.lounsburyfuneralhome.com (519) 658-9366
The Waterloo Region Record 1 Apr 2011
- O'KRAFKA, Helen November 29, 1922 - March 30, 2011 We lost a wonderful lady and heaven won a new angel just after midnight on Wednesday, March 30th. Helen Lillian O'Krafka (Ringler) passed peacefully into God's loving arms. She joins her husband Harry "Steve" (1990), her sister Beatrice Stephenson, her son Peter (January 2011), her parents Charlie and Ida Ringler and many brothers and sisters-in-law. Left on earth to celebrate her life and mourn her death are her children Sharon (Dana Anderson), Katherine (John Collins), Steve (Linda), Paul (Dianne) and daughter-in-law Debbie (Peter). Helen also leaves 16 grand- children and 13 great-grandchildren with two on the way in the next six weeks. Helen will be remembered as a good neighbour and a good friend to many in the neighbourhoods where she lived. These include: Hespeler; Eagle Lane on Puslinch Lake, Doral Villas in Clearwater Florida and Apple Blossom at St. Joseph's Health Centre in Guelph. Helen's first job was at Dominion Woollens Mill. It was here that she met her husband whom she married while he was on a brief leave from WWII. Most of her adult life Helen was a homemaker. She worked at the Hostess Potato Chip Factory, the Hespeler Public School and O'Krafka Brothers. Helen received strong support from her church family at St. James Anglican Church in Hespeler, especially the Reverend George Ferris in recent years. She enjoyed the company of the Fellowship Club where she and Steve hosted annually for many years for a summer barbeque. In retirement, Helen and Steve added on to their cottage at Puslinch Lake. It was the family and neighbourhood gathering centre for most of the summer. Helen enjoyed swimming and water skiing but most of all she enjoyed cruising the lake on her pontoon boat, usually with many grandchildren in tow. She and Steve spent about 20 winters in Florida in their winter home at Doral Villas in Clearwater. They had another group of good friends there. Together they spent time going to Flea Markets, shopping in the big malls, swimming, golfing, playing pool, playing cards, visiting and riding their three-wheel bikes. Friends and family from Canada were always welcome and they enjoyed the visits of many guests. Helen's last stop and last home was St. Joseph's Health Centre in Guelph. She moved there on September 22, 2004. The facilities were brand new and lovely but more importantly the staff continued the more than 100 year history and tradition of caring of the Sisters of St. Joseph. They were her caregivers, but much more than that they were surrogate family to Helen. The O'Krafka family are extremely thankful to all associated with St. Joseph's and especially the wonderful staff who cared for and loved our mother on Apple Blossom. You are the best. Thank You. Helen's life will be celebrated on Friday, April 1st and Saturday, April 2nd. Her memory will last for ever. Memories can be shared at the Lounsbury Funeral Home, 1766 Franklin Boulevard, Cambridge on Friday, April 1st from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 2nd at St. James Anglican Church, 520 Ellis Road, Cambridge at 11 a.m. with Father Mario Hryniewicz officiating. Donations in memory of Helen can be made to St. Joseph's Health Centre, Guelph or the St. James Anglican Church Roof Fund. Condolences/Donations/Directions www.lounsburyfuneralhome.com (519) 658-9366
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Sources - [S237] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - New Hope CC#4498 Internet Link .
O'Krafka/ Harry/ "Steve"/ July 10, 1917/ Sept. 27, 1990/ Helen/ Ringler/ Nov. 29, 1922- / loving memories last forever - [S602] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - The Waterloo Region Record (March 2008- ), Obituary of Helen O'Krafka - 1 Apr 2011.
- [S3231] Find A Grave, Cemetery, N., America, N., Municipality, W., & Cemetery, N. (1922). Helen Lillian Ringler O'Krafka (1922-2011) -... Retrieved 31 May 2020, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63883548/helen-lillian-o_krafka.
- [S237] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - New Hope CC#4498 Internet Link .
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Event Map 
Occupation - laborer - - Dominion Woollen Mill, Hespeler, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada 
Buried - - New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada = Link to Google Earth
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