Helene Mussbach

Helene passed away, at the age of 92, at the Samarkand Retirement Community after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, at age 90, on November 1, 2013.

Helene and Robert relocated from Arcadia, CA to the San Roque neighborhood of Santa Barbara for retirement in 1981. But Helene never really retired, working as a tax accountant for many years with local clients. She also selflessly gave her time and energy to others including work as a volunteer docent at Lotusland and as a volunteer instructor at the YMCA in Santa Barbara. She had also generously supported numerous charitable organizations in the local community. In her spare time, she enjoyed sewing, hiking, cooking and trips to visit her family members in Germany.

Helene was an accomplished accordionist, performing professionally up to her very passing. Some of her notable performances included the annual celebration in Glendale, CA of Austria’s first Independence Day in the 12th Century, the annual French Festival in Oak Park, performances with the Edelweiss Choir of Santa Barbara, and most recently, entertaining the residents of the Samarkand Retirement Community.

In addition to her participation in the Accordion Club of Santa Barbara, she was also engaged in several fraternal organizations including the German-American Clubs of both Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and the Swiss Club of Santa Barbara.

Helene is survived by her relatives in Germany: Alfred Mezger, brother; and her nieces Monika Honisch, Annedore Beer-Kasprzak (husband Bernd Kasprzak), Ulrike Rocker, Susanne Laich, and Henriette Sauter.

A memorial service and reception will be held at 11:00am on Friday, February 19, 2016 at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 909 La Cumbre Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93110. For those wishing to make remembrances, consider a donation to a worthy charity or foundation serving the Santa Barbara community.