Verpeko, Elena N. (nee Khokhlova) age 61, In the Lord’s Care on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Beloved wife of Lester Horn; dearest mother of Artyom Verpeko and Nikolay Verpeko; stepmother of Shannon and Richard Horn; loving grandmother of Asyla, Mila, Jaxon, Belyana and Nikolay; cherished daughter of Nikolay Khokhlov and the late Raisa Khokhlova; dear sister of Tatiana (Vadim) Astafyevi; dear sister-in-law of George (Karen) Horn and Sherra (the late H. Gene) Jenkins; our dear aunt, cousin and friend.
Services private by KUTIS SOUTH COUNTY CHAPEL.
We are sad to hear if this, she was a wonderful lady and made my uncle sonny a very happy person.
Elena – My Wife, My Best Friend and My Soul Mate.
On March 1, 2022 I lost my wife to cancer. She battled cancer for 3 years during which there was a period of remission, but sadly the cancer came back and took her from me.
Elena was one of the best things that ever happened in my life. We met online and corresponded for some time. I realized early on that she was a very special person. As our long distance relationship grew, I made the trip to her home in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia and I met her lovely family in Rostov on Don. We were married in Larnaka, Cyrus in October of 2003. We settled in Missouri where Elena became a US Citizen in 2017.
After arriving in America, Elena became interested in baking and joined Dierbergs’ Central Bakery team. Before long she began baking and decorating for others. Her decorating skills and style differentiated her from all others.
Elena was strong, determined and kind to all.
I loved our time together and will always carry her in my heart
I worked with Elena at Diebergs for many years. She was the sweetest kindest person I’ve ever meet. She would do anything for you if possible. She helped me so much learning ways to decorate cake. She was beyond talented. Her baking was beyond wonderful. She was a real treasure to me and all who knew her. Prayers to Les and family.
My sweet step mom. Such a lovely lady. I will never forget how incredibly thoughtful, caring, and warm hearted Elena was. I remember first meeting her a few years after her and my Dad got married. It was as if I had already known her for such a long time. The world would be hard pressed to find someone with a heart half as warm and as giving as hers.
She was an incredible baker as well! I’ve seen her make cake and cookie designs that just absolutely blew my mind. But she always made it seem like there was nothing to it, and did so with the biggest smile. I remember enjoying some of the best cookies I’ve ever had when she sent a massive box of her home baked ginger bread cookies out to me while I was on my first deployment.
Indeed, food always seemed to be one of her biggest expressions of love. I never went hungry any time I went to visit my family in St. Louis. I can remember when my wife and I were still dating and I took her to St. Louis a few summers ago to meet my family, we were getting ready to head to the car rental place to drop off our rental car and head back to Seattle at 3am; Bethany and I figured we’d just grab some coffee before we left my Dad’s house, and then maybe grab snacks to munch on once we got to the airport. Nope! Elena made sure she was up and at em’ before we even woke up and cooked a whole meal, sides and all, for us to enjoy and fuel our bodies before we made our journey back to the Pacific Northwest.
Thank you Elena, for always treating me as if I was your own. Your warm heart and kind words over the years will carry on with me, my Dad, and the rest of the family for the rest of our days! I love you always!
Elena was a gifted artist and sweet-natured lady. Since I live in Florida, she and I never got the chance to meet in person, but we had phone conversations that were a blessing to me, and I felt she was encouraged, too. Just hearing her voice as we discussed her sickness, I could tell that she was trying to be optimistic about everything. My daughter Bethany is Elena’s step-son, Rick’s wife. I heard of the heartwarming times that Bethany and Rick shared with Elena and Les. Elena will be missed so much by all who knew and loved her. God bless all of her family and friends.
Dearest ELENA
So sad to hear your gone you was a very special person who brought joy to many people with your cakes cookies & love you had in your heart God picked you to be one of his angels to guide some one along their life’s path and to watch over your loved one you will truly be missed by all.
We never met Elena, but have heard her friends and family share her beautiful life. We know she is a child of God sent to this earth to bless so many.
Nancy and I will be praying for all of you that will be directly affected by her lost.
Love all of you.
Rick and Nancy Everitt
Elena was a beacon of kindness.
I will always remember her as a lovely, beautiful woman with a remarkable talent for baking and a wonderfully inviting smile. It is so sad to think she is no longer with us.
Reading everyone’s touching words on this page, it’s easy to see what a loss this is to Elena’s friends and family. I hope my Uncle Lester finds some measure of solace and comfort knowing what a light she was to everyone she encountered. We are simply better for having known her.
You are and will be missed, Elena.
I’m sad to hear this. I loved the cookies and cakes you made and built the relationship with you and Nikolay. I’m going to miss you a lot and one day we will see each other again.
Elena was such a special person. She was so selfless, & so giving to others. She was the most kind hearted person I have ever met. I wish I had been able to work with her longer at Dierbergs. She always greeted anyone with a smile, She brightened up any room she walked into. She showed me not only how to decorate… but also many life lessons & guidance. Her absence is felt so hard & heavy. I am so thankful to have had her in my life .. even if only for a short time. I will always remember, rejoice & cherish everything about Elena..
Until we meet again. ♥️️
Lester, I am so sorry for your loss. I feel sad that I never had the opportunity to meet her. It is sad that we grow up and go off into different directions and life gets in the way. Living here in Florida the past 34 yrs. I haven’t had the connection with you and George as we had as kids. I do know that when George spoke of Elena the first words from him was “that she was the Best thing to happen to you”. For that I am glad. God Bless you Lester.
Love and Hugs,
Janice Sue
No words can express the pain that we all felt when we heard about this bereavement. We are all grieving with you, and it is very difficult for us to find words that will reduce your pain. Miss Elena was not only a mentor for me, she was my older sister and friend and treated me like a daughter. She taught me, helped me and was always ready to help more. I am saddened to realize that she is no longer with us. May Allah reward her in heaven for all the good that she brought to people! We will keep her memory in our hearts forever. And we wish you and all her loved ones fortitude and patience in this difficult time. Hold on and accept our most sincere sympathy. You are not alone in this difficult hour. May Allah protect you from all troubles, amen!
I had the privilege to share Elena’s company at a few family gatherings through the years. She always struck me as a confident, intelligent and independent person. Elena loved her family and would glow when talking about her children and grandchildren. I know her family members are going through a sorrowful time but maybe each day they can feel a moment or two of Elena’s goodness and smile.
I am heart broken. Elena was the most amazing and kind woman I’ve ever met. She was such true artist and such a wonderful person! May she Rest In Peace Elena you will truly be missed
Maybe it is not customary for a husband to post more than one comment but I just have to. My best friend, partner and lover, and beloved Elena was taken from me March 1, 2022. Realization of losing such a beautiful sole and my wife has not really set in. Hard to accept. It has caused me health issues and I understand that happening Still I totally and without questions loved my Elena, my lover and partner, my mentor, and beloved wife and will for the rest of my days
March 1, 2023 marks one year since I lost my wife Elena. Not a day goes by that something doesn’t trigger memories Some only I know Things within the house seem empty without her I continue to love her to this day and always will May heavenly father God and Savor Jesus comfort her and may she find a way to let me see her in front of me and talk with me. Sometimes her directions were the best thing that could have happened and now heavenly directions would mean so much