Helen Rita VanWyngaarden

(June 14, 1918 - November 10, 2009)

Helen Rita Van Wyngaarden, a Pinedale resident, died peacefully on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 from a short bout with cancer, in the home she shared with her oldest daughter Gail Ann Taylor. Helen was born on June 14, 1918 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to Harry Percy and Stella Jane Cochrane.

Helen married Harold Van Wyngaarden in November 1938 in Toronto. She moved to California in 1959 and lived in Pheonix, Arizona for 31 years before returning to California after the death of her husband in 1990.

Helen was employed as a school food service worker, eventually retiring as a hospital food specialist in the late 1980's. She was an avid crossword puzzle solver and fondly cared for her canine friends, Fritz and Harvey.

In addition to her daughter Gail; she is survived by her other two children, Harold Kenneth Van Wyngaarden of Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada and Susan Laurel Childress of Santa Rosa, California. She also leaves 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren.

Although Helen made peace with God, she requested no service to be held. Her family is planning a Celebration of her life to be announced at a later date.

emembrances may be made to Hinds Hospice 1616 W. Shaw Ave., Ste. A-5 , Fresno, Ca., 93711.