Helen W. Buchanan

December 28, 1924 - July 12, 2015

Helen Wakefield Buchanan, of Bellingham, WA, passed away Sunday, July 12, 2015 in Bellingham. She was 90, born in Columbus, Ohio on December 28, 1924 to Leslie and Florence (Twigg) Wakefield. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, brother Richard Wakefield and son-in-law Steve Bajema and is survived by her children, Carol Bajema, Nancy (Scott) Wilmot, and Todd (Donna) Buchanan; 5 grandchildren, Jennifer (Travis) Copus, Kathryn (Jason) Sytsma, Emily Bajema, Ryan (Mandee) Wilmot, and Sarah Wilmot; and great-grandson Levi Wilmot. Helen loved gardening, sewing, weaving and ceramics; especially when these skills were involved in her long career as an occupational therapist. She was an Ohio State “Buckeye”. There she earned her high school and college diplomas, and became a member of the Phi Mu Sorority. Throughout her life, she treasured her time in Bible study and with her family. She had a heart for helping others and she passed on this caring attitude to her children and grandchildren. Our family wants to thank the staff at Alderwood Park Health and Rehabilitation Center in Bellingham for their care of Helen as her health declined over the last eight years. Services were held at Westford Funeral Home in Bellingham. Memorials may be made to The Lighthouse Mission, P.O. Box 548, Bellingham, WA 98227 or at www.TheLighthouseMission.org.