Heaven’s bell choir welcomed a new member when the spirit of Helen May Kattwinkel, age 91, arrived on June 28, 2022, from Virginia Beach, Virginia after her body succumbed to multiple recent health challenges.
Born on October 4, 1930, in Paterson, NJ, Helen was the daughter of John Grinwis and May Josephine Kraus. She was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, Lt. Col. O. Frank Kattwinkel, USAF (Ret), a son-in-law Charles Navien and a grandson Matthew Navien.
Left with wonderful memories of a life well-lived are six children Linda Joy Kattwinkel (Gary Ceralde) of San Francisco, CA, Bryan Kattwinkel (Jane) of Palm Bay, FL, Susan Navien of Haverhill, MA, Kevin Kattwinkel (Sheryl) and Scott Kattwinkel (Robin Pearson) of Virginia Beach, and Frank Kattwinkel (Audrey) of Charlottesville, VA; her fifteen surviving grandchildren Miles Ceralde (Cecilia), Erica (John) Berry, Sara (Chad) Thompson, Lisa (John) Romano, Jenna and Joseph Kattwinkel, Timothy, Christopher and Rachel Navien, and Zachary, Bethany, Mackenzie, Tyler, Daniel and Michael Kattwinkel; and six great-grandchildren including Kaia, Landon, Liam, Lucy and Noah.
A woman of strong faith, Helen had many talents and skills that she put to good use throughout her life. She attended Douglass College for two years and received her B.S. Degree in Nursing from Cornell University, New York Hospital School of Nursing in 1952. She worked as a visiting nurse prior to marriage, then continued doing volunteer nursing for much of her adult life. As the wife of an Air Force officer she was a homemaker at many duty stations while raising a family of six children, including a tour in Ankara, Turkey – where among other things she and Frank developed a love of square dancing.
Upon her husband’s retirement from the Air Force in 1977 they settled in Virginia Beach where Helen was active in the community for the rest of her life. She served in numerous volunteer, teaching, and leadership roles with the Girl Scouts, the Virginia Beach Infant Stimulation program, Wycliffe Presbyterian Church, and resident groups at Westminster-Canterbury, making good friends all along the way. This life of service was perhaps best illustrated when she received the American Institute for Public Service Jefferson Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 1999 and the 2006 Dorothy Barber Award as a Lifetime Girl Scout. She was the type of focused and hard-working person you always wanted on your team if your goal was to get something done. Her hobbies included just about anything with needle and thread (sewing, quilting, smocking, knitting, embroidery and cross-stich), church choir, bell choir, swimming, reading and travel. A resident of Westminster Canterbury for 20 years, she was known for her beloved “snow village” display that graced the west wing twelfth floor elevator lobby every winter.
A Celebration of Life for Helen will be held Saturday, August 27, 2022 at 10:00 am at Wycliffe Presbyterian Church, 1445 N. Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Matthew J. Navien ’04 Memorial Scholarship Fund at Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, MA (www.centralcatholic.net).
