Helen Ann Boraker

Helen Ann (Willems) Boraker, age 90, of Ferndale passed peacefully from this life surrounded by her loved ones on Friday, November 29, 2024 following a quick decline with dementia and heart failure. Helen was born October 28, 1934 to Issac and Anna (Thiessen) Willems in Inman, Kansas. She was 1 of 4 children and the eldest daughter. Her family lived in Kansas and California and eventually they settled in Custer, WA. She met her husband at Ferndale High School, and they were married shortly after graduation. They had 2 children, Greg and Tracy, and spent those years raising their family in Ferndale and Blaine. Helen and her husband moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1983 and ran a Bicycle Shop and lived and worked in Phoenix for 20+ years. She has always been devoted to her faith and church community wherever she was living. Helen and her husband retired back to Ferndale in 1998. In their retirement they enjoyed house and pet sitting and were able to meet new people and connect with their friends and family as they traveled a lot. They spent a great deal of their time on Samish Island. When her husband passed away in 2016, Helen and her longtime friend and sister-in-law Charlotte became inseparable. Helen and Charlotte would spend lots of time visiting friends and family who were homebound, and also visiting with friends for games and lunch. Helen was very active at her church as well. Helen is survived by her children Greg (Mari) of Wisconsin, Tracy of Ferndale; sister Betty and sister-in-law Charlotte; grandchildren Heather (Paul), DeAnna (Aadam), Stefanie (Vernon), Maddie (James); great grandchildren Rye, Baylee, Corbin, Eli, Connor, Frankie, Isabelle, Presley, and Maverick. Helen was preceded in death by her husband Everett and her parents; siblings Joel and Jim, son-in-law- Scott, and granddaughter Whitney. 

Please join for a memorial service, Saturday, December 14th at 3:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Ferndale, 5759 Vista Drive with a fellowship time to follow. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Samaritan’s Purse or Child Evangelism Fellowship of Whatcom County.