Cover photo for Helen Ann Vandenhoek's Obituary
Helen Ann Vandenhoek Profile Photo
1950 Helen 2016

Helen Ann Vandenhoek

September 13, 1950 — September 5, 2016

Helen Ann Vanden Hoek (nee Brightwell) 65, wife of loving husband John Jay Vanden Hoek, went to join our Heavenly Father, Monday, September 5, 2016 after an extended illness of brain cancer. She passed at her home.

Helen, also lovingly known as “Princess” by her loving husband, was born September 13, 1950 in Chatham, Kent, England, she was the daughter of Roy Alan Brightwell and Audrey Alice Smith Brightwell.

She attended school in England until she traveled overseas to Brasil with her parents. There she was employed in various companies in the Administrative Fields and Translation. She met the love of her life there. Upon returning to the U.S. Helen was very active in local theatre groups acting, directing and producing. She was a beautiful soul with a heart of gold. Her love for family, friends and animals was boundless.

Surviving, in addition to her husband are her mother, Audrey Alice Brightwell, stepson Tim Vanden Hoek and wife Katie, a son, C. Wood, brother Roy R Brightwell and partner Michaela Mayhew, sister Michele Brightwell and partner Robert Goldberg, and nephews Austin, Hunter and Tanner Abrruzzese and Tommy Goldberg and step niece Lindsay Goldberg.

A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, September 15, 2016 at the Orchard Farms Club House from 5:30-7:00 p.m., officiated by Reverend Tony Eubanks.

In lieu of flower donations, Memorials may be made to GHS Center for Success in Aging, Memory Care Program, 255 Enterprise Boulevard, Greenville, SC 29615 and Hooves & Paws Rescue Program, 107 Third Street, Fountain Inn, SC 29644

Helen will “sail” to Heaven with her beloved father, Roy Brightwell, who left this world a mere 19 hours after her. They shared a great love for this song.


I am sailing
I am sailing
Home again
'Cross the sea
I am sailing,
Stormy waters
To be near you,
To be free

I am flying,
I am flying
Like a bird
'Cross the sky
I am flying,
Passing high clouds
To be with you,
To be free

Can you hear me, can you hear me
Through the dark night, far away
I am dying, forever crying
To be with you, who can say

Can you hear me, can you hear me
Through the dark night far away
I am dying, forever crying
To be with you, who can say

We are sailing, we are sailing
Home again
'Cross the sea
We are sailing
Salty waters
To be near you,
To be free

Oh Lord, to be near you, to be free
Oh my Lord, to be near you, to be free
Oh my Lord, to be near you, to be free
Oh Lord.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Helen Ann Vandenhoek, please visit our flower store.

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