Helen Eleanor Hookland

March 2, 1938 - March 24, 2022

Beloved wife of the late Ron Hookland, Helen was born March 2, 1938 and passed away peacefully from Dementia on March 24, 2022 at the age of 84. Helen is preceded in death by her husband Ronald Hookland and daughter, Tara (Hookland) Knechtle.

Helen is survived by: Rene' Knechtle, g-daughter Vanessa - Switzerland; Keith (Yongsuk) - VA, g-sons: Kristopher (Lisa) - great g-children Lilliana, Gabriel - HI; Daniel (Adrianna) - great g-daughter Giselle - VA; Lynda (Anthony) Stevens - CA; Cynthia (Mark) Wilson, g-sons: Zachary and Taylor - CA, g-daughter Misia (Lance) Hookland-Schwartzendruber - AZ; Ron (Veronica) - Tucson, AZ, g-children: Ronnie, Chadet (Nick) Aldinger - g/g-son Roan, g/g-daughters Avery, Remy and Gypsy g-g g/daughter Lydia; Keila Hookland and Rhiannon (Conor) Finnegan - GA. Niece 'daughter' Patty Woods - NV - Shacoby, Tasha and Scotty.

She was best known as Babci (grandmother in Polish) and is the heart of our family. She loved hugs, kisses, phone and video calls, and visits from family and friends.

Helen was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised by her parents Walter and Marya Januszczyk in her beloved Worcester, MA. She loved the bus rides with her dad to Boston. At age 4 she met her lifelong best friend ('sister') Franny (Siedlecki) Johnson. They went to church every Sunday at Our Lady of Czestochowa and attended St. Mary's until the 8th grade. She was affectionately called "Helena the laughing Hyena". They graduated from Commerce H.S. and then Helen went on to graduate from Becker College. Although Franny went onto a Nursing College they remained 'sisters' throughout the rest of their lives.

While on a beach trip with friends to The Cape, Helen met Ron Hookland while he was stationed at Otis AFB, MA. Six months later they married at Our Lady of Czestochowa and then the military spouse life began. They moved to Panama City/Tyndall AFB, FL where Tara, Keith and Lynda were born. Onto Chanute AFB, IL where Cynthia and Ronnie were born. Off to Elmendorf AFB, AK; Pease AFB, NH; Pomona, CA; Otis AFB, MA; Vandenberg AFB, CA and retiring in Vandenberg Village.

Helen was one of our biggest supporters from Scouting, sports, dance to musical instruments. She was a devout Catholic reading her bible and attending church daily. She actively organized and participated in church functions to include picnics, skits, Holiday parties and serving food at the Good Samaritan Shelter in Santa Maria. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, crocheting, sewing, watching Jeopardy, the news and weather channel. We all received updates on the weather. She loved the airshows in AZ.

Helen was extremely proud of her Polish heritage and served her favorite recipes on Christmas Eve: pierogi, Kielbasa, golabki (stuffed cabbage), borscht and chrusciki. We all loved her Holiday baking too! She loved the Polish Bazaars/Mass in Los Angels, San Diego and St. Cyrils church in Tucson.

Ron, Helen and Misia relocated to Vail, AZ in 2003 where they enjoyed many family activities with Tara and Ron's families. They feasted at Laura's Mex. Restaurant and the Korean BBQ. The trips to Silver City, NM; Prescott, Jerome, Bisbee, AZ. They enjoyed traveling: Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, Greece among the travels throughout the U.S. In June 2016 Helen relocated to Lynda & Anthony's in Lancaster, CA. She was still able to travel to Worcester, MA, to VA to be with Keith, Pismo area to visit Binky, Tucson to see Ronnie/family and Misia, Cape Cod to visit Franny, Las Vegas to visit with Patty, to Catalina Island and a Dodgers game.

So many loving, caring special thanks to everyone: To Misia for always being with Babci and gramps, taking care of them and making weekly calls and the numerous visits. To Ronnie and your family for constantly looking after mom and dad, taking them where ever they needed to go and just to be with them while in Vail; and for the many calls and helping out while mom was in Lancaster. To Keith and your family for the visits, gifts and always calling to talk to them and visiting mom in Lancaster. To Binky and your family for the many trips to Vail to be with them and for the cards, gifts, calls and your countless trips to Lancaster to help Lynda. To Lynda and Anthony for taking care of Helen throughout the near 6 years. To Patty for always calling to see how your Your Aunt Helen is doing and the visits to see her. To Franny for being Helena's best friend and sister.

Mom, Ma, Babci, Aunt Helen, Helena... You will be missed dearly.

dziekuje Matka, Kochamy cie!!

Na zdrowie!!!