Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend your servant.
We give thanks for the life of Helen Dennee Hill, Priest, and are grateful for her ministry in the Diocese of New Westminster and in the Anglican Church of Canada.
Helen died at a time of her choosing on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at her home in Vancouver.
Helen attended elementary and high school in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was President of her high school class. She attended both The Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church growing up, but was confirmed in The Episcopal Church in 1957. Her university undergraduate degree was done at four universities - Tulane University, New Orleans; Northwestern University, Chicago; Université Sorbonne, Paris; and Boston University, where she graduated with a BA in history in 1958. Helen moved to Vancouver in 1959 and became a member at Christ Church Cathedral. Her community involvement included parent organizations, the Junior League, and she was President of the Sunny Hill Hospital Auxiliary. In addition to being a Lay Administrator at the Cathedral, Helen was on the diocesan Task Force on Hospice and Palliative Care and the diocesan Programme Committee. She enjoyed sailing and skiing.
Having discerned a vocation to ordained ministry, Helen attended the Vancouver School of Theology and graduated with an MDiv in 1986. She was ordained to the diaconate June 2, 1985, and appointed Deacon Assistant at St. Philip, Dunbar, in June 1985. She was ordained to the Priesthood on June 29. 1986. She completed her appointment at St Philip’s in 1987.
Helen also served as Honorary Assistant and then Assistant Priest at St. Mark, Kitsilano, followed by a period as Chaplain at the Willingdon Youth Custody Centre, Burnaby, before being appointed Priest-in-Charge at Christ the Redeemer, Surrey. She would later serve as Honorary Assistant at Christ Church Cathedral. She retired in June 2000.
Helen was predeceased by her husband Dr. Robert Hunter Hill in 2021. She met Robert in Paris, France, when she was a student there, and they married in 1957. Her daughter Diana Hill Stringer also predeceased her in 2018. She is survived by her daughter Lisanne Hill (Rob Dowler) her son Robert Hill, her son-in-law Brad Stringer, her grandchildren Sarah and Robert Dowler, her step-grandchildren Jade and Tyler Stringer.
The Reverend Hill's funeral will take place at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, November 25 at 1:30pm.