Dena Heller, 90, died at Oak Harbor Retirement Community Oct. 12, 2003. She was born in Nyverdal, Netherlands July 15, 1913, to Herman and Johanna (Limbeek) Withage.

After her father’s death in 1917, Dena and her mother immigrated to Canada through Ellis Island where her mother married Henry Tyhuis. The family farmed in Alberta, Canada until 1927 at which time they moved to Whidbey Island to reside.

Dena was married to Hans Heller in Oak Harbor. He preceded her in death in December 1949 at the age of 39.

In 1951, Mrs. Heller went to work as a cook for Oak Harbor School District. She continued her employment with the school district until 1973 at which time she retired as the head cook.

Mrs. Heller was a faithful member of First Reformed Church of Oak Harbor.

She is survived by one daughter, Leona Brannan and her husband Chuck of Oak Harbor; three sons, Richard Heller of Hawaii, William H. Heller and wife Sherrie of Oak Harbor, and Charles Heller of Oak Harbor; seven grandchildren, Chuck Brannan, Rick Brannan, Chris Heller, Cathy Heller Jones, Stephanie Heller Hewett, Peter Heller and Kealley Heller and two great-grandchildren, Joshua and Noah Jones. She is also survived by one sister, Johanna Zylstra of Oak Harbor and by one brother, Gerrit Tyhuis of Oak Harbor. In addition to her husband and her parents, Mrs. Heller was preceded in death by one son, William and one grandson, Joseph Heller, and two brothers, John and Joe Tyhuis.

Graveside services will be held at Maple Leaf Cemetery Thursday, Oct. 16, at 1 p.m. Memorial services will follow at 2 p.m. at First Reformed Church, Oak Harbor. The Rev. Jon Brown will officiate at the services. Remembrances may be made to Oak Harbor Christian School or First Reformed Church Mission Fund, Oak Harbor. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel.