Helen D. Henderson

She was born in Earling, West Virginia. Her parents were freedom-loving Czech immigrants who came to the United States in search of a better life. Michael and Mary Duda met and married in Pennsylvania and set about building their lives in the coal mining regions of Southern West Virginia. Life was very good until Mr. Duda developed cancer and passed away in 1938. In those days no safety net existed, and the family knew extreme hardship. The difficulties of those times gave Helen life-long lessons in survival, perseverance and determination.

She graduated high school in 1942 and moved to Norfolk, VA with her sister Ann and Ann’s husband Harwood Steele, who joined the Navy and was posted there. Helen got a job at the Norfolk Naval Yard and loved it but when Mr. Steele was shipped out, she and her sister moved back to West Virginia. She then worked as a payroll clerk for Crystal Block Coal Corporation.

Towards the end of World War II she met T.R. Workman, who was CEO of West Virginia Coal and Coke. Despite their vast age difference, they fell in love and married in 1947. Mr. Workman had long made plans to retire to Florida. The original spot was the Sarasota area, but on a driving trip back to West Virginia, they happened to stop in Winter Park for the night and stayed at the Palm Plaza motel on Highway 17-92, owned by Clarence and Charlotte Hurley. The Hurleys quickly convinced them to abandon Sarasota in favor of Winter Park. They introduced them to Charles Clayton, Jr., who was just starting out as a home builder. In 1951, he built their home on Lake Sue Avenue, and they moved to Winter Park in 1954, when their daughter Katherine Ann was a toddler.

They immersed themselves in the community life of Winter Park, joining civic clubs and committees, and were active in church, PTAs, Brownies and Girl Scouts, among others. Things changed again when Mr. Workman passed away in 1964. Helen became a single parent which wasn’t easy for her. She worked for a time in the office of Allen Trovillion’s construction business.

In 1970 she married John R. Henderson, who passed away in 2004. Until recently she lived at the home on Lake Sue Avenue. She was fervent in her affection for Winter Park. She had a lifelong interest in politics and elected officials. She claimed to have never missed voting in an election. She did that in memory of her father, who was never able to become a citizen and a voter before his early death. Becoming a U.S. citizen in the 1930’s was not an easy task and his inability to do so was a source of sadness for her and her family, so she took her citizenship responsibilities seriously. Local candidates often came to her door to ask for support and her neighbors always asked her opinions on who to vote for. Her daughter Katherine will miss the many conversations with her mother where together they solved the problems of the world.

One of her greatest attributes was her excellence as a mother-in-law to her daughter’s husband, Marc Winchester. All who knew her were aware of her affection for him. She told everyone from day one that “I love my son-in-law, and I think he likes me, and I want to keep it that way.” And she did. It was a great gift to her daughter. She was a shining example of how to welcome, accept and love a child’s chosen life partner.

Helen was a good neighbor and a good family member. She helped people. She loved her home and her daily life and kept her own counsel. To paraphrase Helen Keller, it was her chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. And she did just that.

She was predeceased by her parents, Michael and Mary Duda; her sisters, Sophie Duda, Ann Duda Steele and her husband, Harwood Steele; brother Steve Duda and his wife Jean Duda; brother Johnny Duda; her first husband, T.R. Workman; her second husband, John R. Henderson, Sr.; nephew Michael Renihan, niece Vicki Woosley, great-great nephew Scott Craven, and stepson John Raymond Henderson, Jr.

She is survived by her daughter, Katherine Workman Winchester, and her son-in-law, Marc Winchester, of Raleigh, NC; her dear nieces Ruthanne Mizner (Tim), of Ocala; Mary Helen Sizemore (Weyman) of Jacksonville, great nephews Jason Antley (Paula), Blake Bobbit (Joy); great nieces Jessica Schipper (Jordan) and Elizabeth Rowe, several great, great nieces and nephews, step granddaughter Sandra Johnston (Keith) and step great-granddaughter Becky Wine.

Special thanks to her wonderful friends and neighbors, Boots and Ken Miller, Angela Estes and the Lagada family for their help and goodwill to Helen. Thanks also to caregivers Mary Wisniewski, Nidia Prince, Annette Matthews, Joy Matthew, Dahlia Robinson, Antoinette Clarke, Adenike Badejo, and others, and the staff at Senior Helpers. Their kind assistance enabled her to maintain a good quality of life. Thanks also to the nursing staff and others at Brookdale Lake Orienta for their kind care.

Many thanks to her dedicated health care providers over the years including Carlos Pacheco, James R. Hundley, Eugenio Bird, Lee Zehngebot, Gretchen Smith, Jinette Maurice, Michelle Riopedre, Lisa Gillespie and others who provided excellent care and encouragement and marveled always at her strong constitution and determination.

She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

Services will be held at Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Rd, Gotha, FL. Scroll for service information.

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