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.

 

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

• Date : 2026-04-29
• Location : Lethbridge, Alberta