Helen Gunderson

On June 16th, 2024, after a 14 year battle with breast cancer, Helen Paula Gunderson passed away peacefully at home, with her family by her side. She was born to Albert and Helen Meichtry in Santa Monica, coming into the world with a splash. During her delivery, her mother was rushed to the hospital in the back of a police car. 

When Helen was young, their family of seven children relocated to Oxnard. Growing up on Silver Strand, Oxnard Shores, and her favorite, Hollywood Beach, Helen found refuge in the ocean. She had a love for Outrigger canoe racing, beach volleyball, body surfing, and became one of the first female lifeguards in Ventura County with her friend Susan Shoemaker. She loved her bicycle as well, riding to Ventura High School every morning from Oxnard, and earning the nickname “Hell on Wheels”.

Helen’s passion for athletics led her to pursue an education in Sports Nutrition. Inspired by several friends in Nursing, she changed course and found her true path in becoming a registered nurse, graduating from Moorpark in 1988. Throughout her career she served many different roles, from being a surgical nurse, floor nurse, to employee health care and case management, with most of her career spent at Community Memorial Hospital. Following her own diagnosis, she served as a Nurse Navigator for newly diagnosed cancer patients, and was a founding member of the Cancer Resource Center of Ventura County. She was very proud of her career and remained a licensed RN for 36 years. 

She also had a love for travel. At 19, equipped with only a backpack, she bought a one-way ticket for New Zealand, where she instantly met a lifelong friend, Tony Smith. Her next stop was Rarotonga, and then Fiji. There she was welcomed into a small village. Their Chief was so inspired by Helen’s spirit that he gave her a ceremonial Kava bowl. She since has returned twice to New Zealand, while in her own home hosting several friends and travelers for months at a time. Helen took her father at 80 years old to visit their family village in Switzerland. She took great pride in her heritage, crediting her Swiss side for her frugality and craftiness, while her sense of humor and hospitality come from her Irish side.

Her greatest sense of pride was in her faith. She found God in nature and people, and gave back through service with her parish, Our Lady of the Assumption. She was an active member, a Eucharistic Minister, and worked hard to organize many events. During her struggles with her health, her faith was especially important to her. Her proudest contribution was sponsoring 13 friends in becoming confirmed Catholics.

Helen’s spirit has gone to join her friends, her mother Helen, father Albert, and her sister Ann. She is survived by her husband Gus, sons Neil (Taylor) and Quinn, brothers Robert (Vicki), Bernard, Albert, James, and Gerard, nieces Dorothy (Jacob), Bonnie (Ty), Paula, Ashley, and nephew John (Ally).

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Santa Paula Art Museum in her honor. As a docent, she carried on the legacy of her mother-in-law Virginia Gunderson as a champion of the arts.

Our deepest gratitude and love goes out to the many friends and caretakers who loved and supported her along her journey. Look for her in the sway of the palms, the sound of the waves, and the Pelican’s flight.