1912-2013
Lena passed away peacefully in her sleep at age 100 on Saturday, April 13 in Santa Barbara, California, with her daughter Alma by her side. Born November 17, 1912 in Utica, New York, Lena moved to Detroit, Michigan as a young woman and enjoyed most of her adult life there before making Santa Barbara her final home in 2001.
She’ll be best remembered for her gentle nature, her sly smile, her mouth-watering Lebanese food, her passion for bingo and a good card game, and the hundreds of afghans she crocheted with love for family, friends, and strangers alike.
Lena was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 44 years Louis Ghosen, siblings Martha Haddad (and her husband, Sidney), Genevieve Avery (and her husband, Vernon), Edward, Tommy and Edna Sagbiny, son-in-law Daniel R. (Bob) Ledbetter, and nephew Gene Haddad.
She is survived by her sister Betty Haddad, her daughter Alma Ledbetter, grandchildren Leane Ledbetter, Dan Ledbetter (Joanne), and Lynette Ledbetter (Peter Sauerborn), great-grandchildren Abigail and Emma Sauerborn and Renee, Ethan and Rachel Ledbetter, and a legion of loving nephews, nieces, cousins and their multitude of children and grand children.
The family would like to express its appreciation to all who so lovingly cared for Lena, especially Dr. Paul Aijian, her Heritage House family, and the nurses and entire staff at Valle Verde’s Health Center.
A rosary/vigil service will be held at the Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapel, 450 Ward Drive in Goleta on Saturday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church, 5444 Hollister Avenue on Monday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m. A reception in the parish hall will follow a graveside service.
If desired, donations may be made to the Valle Verde Employee Fund, 900 Calle de los Amigos, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (“In memory of Lena Ghosen” written in the memo line.)
