Helen Clark (Bragg) Critchley

It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of our dear mother, wife, grandmother, great grandmother, and sister, who passed away peacefully at the Northside Community Guest Home on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at the age of 93. Born in Lackawanna, New York State, on August 27, 1931, Helen was the daughter of the late Samuel and Annie (Muir) Bragg. Very early during her childhood, her parents moved their family back to Cape Breton in order for her father to pursue his work as a coal miner in Broughton. Mom was always very proud about starting school in Broughton, but after the mine closed, her father moved the family to the Northside area for work. Some of our mother’s fondest memories are during her youth growing up in the Tobin Road area, which was known as the "Tank". Her many memories were of picking blue berries, playing in the woods in that area and the Chalmers Jack Mission where she attended school and church in her early years. Upon completion of high school in Sydney Mines, our mother attended business college in North Sydney and following her graduation, she worked in the offices of L.A. Steele in North Sydney. She would often proudly tell us about how she walked the tracks to work from the Tank. Later, mom worked in the offices of the British Canadian Coop Store in Sydney Mines.

After meeting our father, the late Eldon Rogerson Critchley, the two married, started a family of five children and built a home on Shore Road, Sydney Mines, where they would live for over thirty years before moving to George’s River, Nova Scotia. While raising her family, our mother was a very devoted and loving wife to our late father and a very devoted and loving mother to her children. Her family was her life and always her priority. Since our father worked on ships most of his life, he was often away at sea and so our mother was the foundation that kept the family and home going. While raising her family, our mother was very devoted to her Church, Carmen United Church, Sydney Mines, and she would spend many hours baking pies and other baked goods for the various church functions. Throughout those years, our mother was very active with the girl guides which was operated by the Salvation Army Church in Sydney Mines. Also, while raising her family, our mother became involved with the Ladies Auxillary for Harbour View Hospital in Sydney Mines and she actively served in the hospital canteen once or twice a week for about forty-five years or more. Our mother was always interested in oil painting, and as her family grew up and started leaving the home nest, she took art classes. Over the years she became a very accomplished artist and although she was very proud of her work, she never thought of herself as a great painter. To her, she could always do better. However, many of her paintings were sold in local art shows in the area and she really was very talented. Her artistic ability was clearly seen in her knitting, crocheting, sewing, and quilting. She was a marvelous baker and cook.
Helen is survived by her daughters, Carol Ann Critchley of Sydney, Kim (Kevin Teather) Critchley of Prince Edward Island, Joan (B.J.) Fiset of Dartmouth; son Stuart (Mary) Critchley of George’s River; grandchildren, Evan (Julie) Critchley, Paul (Leslie) Bonnar, Kyle (Selynn Butler) Robertson, Colin (Danielle) Bonnar, Kate Robertson, Laura Fiset, Michael Fiset; brothers Bob Bragg and Donnie Bragg of Guelph, Ontario. Helen is also survived by her two great grand-children Allie and Sawyer Bonnar, George’s River. Besides her parents, Helen was predeceased by her husband and our father, Eldon, George's River, and son Billy Critchley, Millville; her sister, Jean (Jack) May of Guelph, and her brother, Sam (Pat) Bragg of New York State. Helen was also predeceased by three brothers, John Robert, James, and Stuart, who passed away close to infancy.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Northside Community Guest Home in North Sydney, especially the nurses, caregivers, cleaners, and cafeteria staff, for their dedication to caring for our mother during her stay there. We cannot thank you enough.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Helen’s life will take place on Wednesday November 20, 2024 at 2pm in Carmen United Church, Sydney Mines with Rev. Norma Mills officiating.
Donations in Helen’s memory may be made to Carmen United Church, the Northside Community Guest Home, or a charity of your choice.

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