Wilhelmina J. M. Erikson

Born on June 23, 1931, in Amsterdam, Holland, to Joannes Hendrikus Ten Rouwelaar and Wilhelmina Johanna Maria Broekmeijer. Wilhelmina was the middle child and a dear sister to her older brother Henk, and younger brother Rob (Tiny).

As a young girl during World War II in occupied Holland, Wilhelmina courageously rode her bicycle alone into the countryside, transporting concealed and crucial hand-crank radios to villagers in the Dutch countryside, in exchange for food, demonstrating a quiet bravery that would define her character throughout her life.

In her late teenage years her father remarried, growing the family, and Wilhelmina doted on her new half-brother Jan (Floor), and had a lifelong friendship with her stepsister Maddie.

Wilhelmina began her professional career as a chemist with Royal Dutch Shell. Always athletic, Wilhelmina rowed crew as a young adult, and took up the sport of curling. During a skiing trip to Switzerland, she met her first husband, Barend Mons, and the two were soon married on June 19th, 1956. Together they immigrated from Holland to Canada, where they established their home and welcomed their two daughters, Leslie and Irene.

After their years in the snow of Canada, Wilhelmina, Barend, and their young daughters caught a glimpse of the sunshine, and moved to California, where they built a warm and active family life. While raising her family, Wilhelmina founded and successfully operated American Translation Services, a business she managed for more than two decades with dedication and skill. The family ultimately settled in Solana Beach, California. Sadly, Barend passed away far too young on February 6th, 1987.

Known to many as “Lynne,” Wilhelmina lived a full life marked by curiosity, determination, and grace. She traveled extensively throughout the world by bicycle, embraced the beauty of nature through gardening and scuba diving, and found great joy in playing bridge, cooking, and sharing meaningful moments with friends and family.

Later in life, Wilhelmina met Jan Erikson, a Swedish shipbuilder. They married in 1998 and shared many happy years together, traveling frequently and both becoming Life Masters in the game of bridge. Jan retired following a long and industrious career with NASSCO, and the pair continued to enjoy a life of travel, with a highlight being a river trip with all their grandchildren from both sides of their family. Jan passed away in 2018, and Wilhelmina continued to enjoy her bridge friends, the Bonita Valley Garden Club and living with her dear cat Elliot.

Wilhelmina is survived by her loving daughter, Irene; her cherished grandchildren, Michael (Abby) and Rebecca; and her beloved grandchildren, Brittany (Paul), Kathryn, and Lindsey (Jack), and her son-in-law Larry. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Leslie.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 28th at 1:30 PM at the United Church of Christ at 276 F Street in Chula Vista. A celebration of life will follow in the church meeting hall.

Wilhelmina will be remembered as an intelligent and accomplished businesswoman, a devoted and loving mother and grandmother, and a woman whose spirit of adventure and warmth touched all who knew her. Her strength, and enduring curiosity about the world will be deeply missed and forever remembered.