Helen Doddridge Watson

Born on October 31, 1925, Helen Watson of New Richmond West died peacefully on August 22, 2026 in her 101st year. She was predeceased by all members of her immediate family: her father Hugh Cameron (Cam) Watson, her mother Wanda Jane McLellan, and her sister Lorraine. She spent the last nine years of her life at the CHSLD in Maria, Quebec. We are very grateful for the compassionate care she received there.

Helen finished her high school education at Quebec Protestant High School in 1942 and had a long career as a teacher, obtaining her degree at McGill University. She took additional courses from the University of New Brunswick and taught in that province most of her life. She retired from Moncton High School in 1985 and returned at that time to the family home in New Richmond West.

Having developed a great interest in genealogy, Helen completed at least two lengthy works: “Descendants of Samuel Watson of New Richmond, Quebec” as well as “James and Agnes Willett’s Descendants.”

An adventurous traveller, Helen spent her early retirement years on boats, planes and trains criss-crossing the world from Antartica to Norway, and throughout Asia, Melanesia, Australia and New Zealand. She loved Africa and visited a good number of the countries from South Africa and Somalia to Botswana, Nigeria, and Swaziland. She cruised the world’s great rivers: the Nile, the Amazon, and the Danube. She visited South America twice, but her favourite voyage was to the Holy Land with friends and neighbours in 1988.

Helen was a member of the congregation of St Andrew’s United Church in New Richmond. A graveside ceremony will be held at the United Church Cemetery in New Richmond on Thursday, September 24 at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Fondation Santé Baie-des-Chaleurs would be appreciated.

"To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure." — J.K. Rowling