Helen Drake

North Sydney

It is with heartfelt sadness that we, the family of Helen (Pero) Drake, age 81, announce her passing on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at the Northside Community Guest Home.

Born in Florence on July 18, 1941, Helen was the daughter of the late George and Sarah Jane (Jessome) Pero.  She worked for a number of years at the fish plant at Seal Island.

Mom enjoyed being at the camper during the summer, a good game of cards with her girls, and just the mention of bingo and she would be the first one in the car to go.  She was always up for a good laugh and a joke.  She adored her family and all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She will be missed by her pups Maggie and Mitsy.

Helen is survived by her husband Earl; her children - Janie (Donnie) Dunphy, Alex (Lynn) Finlayson, Wendy (Pearce) Abbott, Sandra (Alex) Anderson, Kathy (Sandy) Dupont, Dorothy (Martin) DiPaolo, Danny (Nicole) Finlayson, Johnena (Chuck) Finlayson; step-children - George (Jennifer) Drake, Leah (Hubert) Mertens, Garfield (Shannon) Drake; brothers Bud (Mary) Pero, Nelson Pero, Wayne (Mary) Pero, Kay Skinner, Ann (Archie)  Osmond; 21 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents George and Sadie (Jessome) Pero; daughter Helene Finlayson; grandson Danny Christie in infancy; sisters Theresa Campbell, Loretta Jacquard, Annette Doucette, Mary Murdock, Debbie Pearce.

The family would like to thank the nurses and the CCA’s at Munro place for the care they gave to our mom, and also Dr. Ignacio and Dr. Poulos.

Visitation for Helen will be held from 4 – 7 pm, Sunday, April 2.  A Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, April 3, in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home Chapel, 107 Pleasant Street, North Sydney with Rev. Stephen Mills officiating.  Burial at Lakeside Cemetery, North Sydney at a later date.  Online condolences may be sent to the family by leaving a message on the tribute wall of the obituary at www.wjdooley.com.