Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
Helena "Lena" Vredegoor
1948 - 2026
HELENA VREDEGOOR, aka Lena, of Lethbridge, passed away at the Chinook Regional Hospital, on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at the age of 77.
Lena is survived by her one son, Chuck (Kristine) Arcand and grandchildren Connor and Addison. She is also survived by sisters: Henny Raats, Anne (Conrad) Verbaas, brothers Hank (Agi) Vredegoor and Gary (Jennie Van Spronsen) Vredegoor, sisters-in-law: Anne Marie Vredegoor and Dora Vredegoor as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, Anthony and Gerarda Vredegoor; sisters: Diane Berns and Grada Vredegoor; Marie; brothers Everett, Martin, Ben, Father Sylvester Vredegoor and Mike Vredegoor; sister-in-law Mary Vredegoor and brothers-in-law Ted Berns and Tony Raats.
Lena Vredegoor was born October 25, 1948 in Drempt, Gelderland, Holland, the
thirteenth child of Anthony and Gerarda Vredegoor.
Lena and her family immigrated to Canada on April 8, 1953, arriving in Halifax at Pier 21, then taking the train to Swift Current, SK.
The family moved to Alberta in 1956, settling in the Shaughnessy area. After graduating from Picture Butte High School, Lena attended Airline training school in Kanas City Missouri and later joined Air Canada in 1967 Ottawa. In 1970 she and her husband at the time Charles Arcand Sr. welcomed their son Chuck Jr. in 1970. She then relocated with Air Canada to Calgary in 1974. In 1990 she spent several years living and working in the Crowsnest Pass until 2021 when she relocated to Lethbridge to be closer to her brothers and sisters.
Lena enjoyed travelling the world and spending time with Chuck and his family in
Calgary. Everyone who ever met Lena cited how kind, loving, and sincere of a person she was. She always had time and cared for everyone she saw whether it was the first time she met you or if she’d known you for years. Chuck Jr. often referred to her as his Mother Theresa. She resided in Lethbridge at the Southgate Complex until the time of her passing.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC
CHURCH, 2405 – 12 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 10:00 A.M. The Memorial Mass will be live-streamed and may be viewed through
Lena’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.
Later in the year once the family is all present, Lena will be laid to rest with her parents in Mountain View Cemetery.
Guestbook (9)
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My sincere condolences to you and your family Chuck. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Eric
So very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family, and wishing you comfort and peace.
Thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time
Condolence to the family Vredegoor and Chuck, Kristine and the kids. We wish all of you the strength to deal with the loss of Lena. We remember her as a wonderful person. During our visit in 2006 she was very kind and hospitable. Rest in peace dear Lena… Ria Wenting-Teunissen Harold, Renate, Lieke, Evi Wenting Wehl / Zelhem, The Netherlands.
I wish to extend my sincere condolences to the family of "Lena" (Chuck, Kristine, Connor and Addison) and their extended family on the passing of such an amazing woman. I knew her as of 1974 when our career paths crossed and she was one of those "angels on earth". She was one of a kind. All who were blessed to have worked with her in her airline career would tell you that. Her humble caring manner and cheerful spirit of heart was ever present whether you knew her for 5 minutes or 5 years. Her calmness of self was always evident and oh those happy smiling eyes with a devilish little laugh. We both had October birthdays in October. I had family in the Crowsnest Pass so whenever I was going to visit them it was automatic that I would stop and visit her while passing through. We kept in touch and were longtime friends even after retiring. I shall miss her dearly and now I know she will be another one of those beautiful stars in the sky watching over all of us. Rest in peace my dear Lena.....you surely deserve it.
Condolences to the Vredegor family. Lena was a wonderful person. Always smiling.
Sorry for your loss. Lena was a very kind and caring person and I am proud to have met her.
She was such a good neighbor to all. She treated all with a smile.
So sorry Chuck and family. I have fond memories of Lena from my childhood. She was another mother to me.
Memorial Card
