Helen Terese (Plouffe) Plati

Helen Terese (Plouffe) Plati – surrounded by 3 generations of her family, bathed in sunshine and song – our dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died peacefully a week shy of her 89th birthday, on Sep 04, 2026. We recall her life with joy and suffer her passing in sadness. Daughter of Freda and Armand, she was pre-deceased by her husband of 63 years Vince Plati, daughter Teresa D’Agostino, son-in-law Frank D’Agostino, sisters Margaret Barnes, Jacquie Camier, and Marcella Perry, and is survived by her dear brother Maurice Plouffe. 

She was a loving and dedicated mother to Larry (Gina Bacciocchi), Donna Hilsenteger (Dan), and Angela Hay (James). Helen adored her 8 grandchildren: Vincent Hilsenteger (Cindy Xin), Adrienne Plati, Lewis Hilsenteger (Monica Szklanny), AJ De Marco (Isabel), Alex Plati, Rosellen D’Agostino (Ashley Broderick), David Hay (Gregory Di Marino) and Elizabeth Edmands (Jack).

She was blessed with 8 great-grandchildren: William, Lincoln, Claire, Nathan, Sophia and Henry Hilsenteger, Aria De Marco and Penelope Edmands, who she showered with love. There are dozens of nieces and nephews with children and grandchildren of their own scattered in Ontario, Manitoba and all over Italy. She provided a home away from home for quite a few Italian nieces and nephews, most notably Mimmo Plati, and the Silvestri children; Fabrizio, Cristina & Alessio. Her newest best friend, the fluffy white puppy April, will miss her terribly.

Helen was a faithful child singing morning mass at St. Brigid’s before school every weekday for years. She was involved with the Catholic Young Peoples’ Club, attended Notre Dame Catholic High School, then married a handsome Italian man, who swept her off her feet.

Helen, a remarkably devoted wife, helped Vince to make homes for their family first in Peterborough, then Scarborough, Woodbridge, Davenport Florida, Bolton, and finally King City.

They lived a full and adventurous life. They were members of The Scarborough Golf and Country Club, Barrie snowmobile club, the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Women’s League, and piloted The Platinum at Big Bay Point Marina. Helen was the first mom to volunteer for every school trip with her big brown van, the surrogate mother to all of the Scarborough Young Bruins, she sang with Frank Sinatra and dined with Pavarotti.  She served on the Villa Colombo Ladies’ Auxiliary, volunteered at St. Margaret Mary Church in Woodbridge, sang with Angela in the choir at Holy Family Parish in Bolton, gossiped with the Red Hatters of Winterhaven, Florida, and, until this June, continued to get out and play bingo with her friends at the Aurora Seniors Centre.

Her family grew to revolve around Nonna, and rely on her stories and games, her gentle wisdom, her hilarious poetry, her steadfast faith and her willingness to always put her family first. She believed life was for living, money for spending, jokes for telling, cards for playing, meals for sharing and kids for squeezing.

Hers was the kitchen table everyone gathered around; hers was the home with an open-door policy; hers was the original ‘safe space’.  She was the woman who many referred to as Mamma “P”, always welcoming, never judging.  All who knew Helen were better for it.

As a family, we are grateful for the extended group of professionals that came into Helen’s life in her later years. Her personal support workers with Spectrum Health Care, particularly Joy Anekwe, Nethi, and Sabrina, and her nurses, Ruby, Rachel and Barbara, ensured her the stability and dignity to remain safe at home for as long as possible. Hospice Vaughan came as a Godsend just as she needed one. We would especially like to thank mom’s kind and deeply compassionate nurse Julia, and palliative care doctor Eriney Hanna who brought grace, comfort and peace to her last days. We will never forget the many ways you helped us all.   

We are inviting friends and well-wishers to join in a memorial visitation to be held at Egan Funeral Home, 203 Queen Street South (Hwy. 50), Bolton (905-857-2213) on Friday, Sep 11 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm, followed by a memorial service in the chapel and a reception afterward. Her cremated remains will be privately interred alongside her husband Vince at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.

If desired, memorial donations may be made in Helen’s name to Hospice Vaughan (www.hospicevaughan.com).

Those unable to attend the service in person are invited to view the service through live streaming, at 4:00 p.m. or at a more convenient time for you, please click the following link:

https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=c32d9df3-9e01-45db-9490-f81e4b3ecc7b

You will be required to register for the service and then Forget Me Not Ceremonies will immediately send you an email with the actual link to the service. Please check your junk or spam inbox if you don’t receive the email with the actual link.   If you experience any issues or have questions in regards to the live streaming, please feel free to contact Forget Me Not Ceremonies at 1-877-895-2739.  Their customer service team will guide you step by step. 

Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com