Helena “Leny” Van Wingerden
Helena Adriana Koot was born September 15, 1932 to Johannes and Helena Koot in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands. She was the 6th of 8 children.Her dad was a butcher and in her early teens she helped make the meat deliveries on her bicycle and collected monies due to the butcher shop. Her strong work ethic was evident throughout her life. She married William “Bill” Van Wingerden in January of 1957 and had 4 children. She often referred to the years of raising her children as being rewarding and special times.
In 1967 she emigrated to the United States with her family of six along with Bill’s 3 brothers and their families to pursue the American dream. The family had chosen Carpinteria for its ideal growing conditions as they were farmers. It was an amazing adventure which she loved although leaving behind all her side of the family was hard.
Leny was a wonderful homemaker she loved to cook and bake, always enjoying new recipes. She was also an excellent seamstress and kept a clean and organized home. She loved to entertain and was a fantastic hostess with delicious dinner parties followed by card games. She was very creative and designed beautiful handmade Birthday and Christmas cards which were treasured by those who received them. She also stitched some beautiful needlepoints including a masterpiece “The Night Watch” a well known Rembrandt painting.
When her husband passed away in 1993, she was encouraged by Kees, her brother-in-law, to come back to the Santa Barbara Bridge Center as he had found her a new bridge partner. Playing bridge brought her years of enjoyment and some new dear friends. She also joined the Polo Club where you could find her swimming laps in the early morning hours always challenging herself to improve the number of laps she could swim in an hour. There, as well, she made some wonderful friends. Many may remember seeing Leny on her walks through Carpinteria. She loved it when those she passed shared a smile or a greeting. She delivered meals for Meals on Wheels and volunteered for HELP giving rides to those who were in need.
Leny treasured spending time with her family and made the holidays especially Christmas and Easter, festive and fun She started a tradition of taking all the grandkids to the Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo by train where they enjoyed spending fun times together. She took all her children and grandchildren on individual trips to see the world as she loved to see new places and wanted her family to experience the adventures of traveling. She enjoyed and looked forward to attending church at St. Josephs and at the chapel on 7th Street.
Leny received wonderful, loving care at her home from her family the last weeks of her life. She passed peacefully into Heaven on the evening of June 27th leaving behind a legacy of love through her cherished family. Children: Astrid (Phil) , John (Dorine), Walter (Allison) and Esther (Hans). Grandchildren: Denise (Jim), Tammy (Geno), Tarra (Jarrett), Tessa (Martin), Erika, Natalie (Paul), Portia (Andrew), Johnny, Janine, Hanna and Talia. Great-grandchildren: Skylar, Delilah, Lucy, Syrah, Charlotte, Blake and Dane.
The family would like to thank all of you who donated blood and platelets in the past, for this gave her extra time to spend with her family and friends through the transfusions she was given. Heartfelt thanks to Reyna Talanian MD, Julian Davis MD and Amanda Sweet PA along with the infusion team at Cottage for the loving care she received.
Please join Leny’s family for her celebration of a life well lived which will be held on July 18th at 9:30am at St Joseph’s Church in Carpinteria followed by a graveside service, then a luncheon reception. You may make a donation to your favorite Charity in Leny’s name to honor her memory.