Helga M Santomenna

Helga M. Santomenna of Chesapeake City, MD, age 93, passed away Sunday, July 18, 2021.  Helga was born on August 22, 1927, in Hannover, Germany to the late Paul Max Ketzel and Henriette Hedwig (Hoffman) Ketzel.

Helga is survived by her daughter, Linda Santomenna and her husband, Robert Alphin; 2 grandsons:  David Santomenna Alphin, James Santomenna; granddaughter, Erin Santomenna; and daughter-in-law, Beth Santomenna.  In addition to her parents, Helga is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 65 years, Raymond Santomenna; sons: Stephen Santomenna and Douglas Santomenna.

Helga’s absolute passion was her family.  She gave herself wholeheartedly to creating a loving, healthy and beautiful home.  Her passion for cooking, baking, organic gardening, sewing, crafting, painting, home decorating, and capturing family memories through photography filled her home with creativity and love.  Beyond her exceptional home making talents, Helga loved adventure.  As a young woman she bicycled through New England.  Helga, Raymond, and their children spent every summer exploring and camping all over the United States and Canada.

Helga and Raymond shared a passion for ballroom dancing and built a dance floor in the basement of their first home to host numerous dance parties.  Together they also enjoyed golfing, tennis, bowling and boating and were active members of United States Power Squadrons.

Helga loved animals and as a child helped her parents raise and show champion boxers and dachshunds.  Her parents helped establish the boxer breed in the United States and founded the American Boxer Club.  Their breeding program yielded many championships at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.  Her passion for animals and nature continued into her adult life which always included many beloved pets and numerous outdoor bird hotels and feeders.

Prior to devoting herself to motherhood, Helga was an executive secretary at The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation and later the Casualty Insurance Company.

A private celebration of Helga’s life will be held on Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the Deerfield Country Club in Newark, Delaware.  Interment will be at Long Island National Cemetery.