Lena Gunawan

Lena Gunawan, birth name Gouw Len Hwa, was born in Cirebon on May 20th, 1940. She was born into a big family of ten children; eight daughters and two sons. She married Paul Wardhana (Nio Peng Long) on July 7th, 1962 and was blessed with four children.

Lena was a dedicated homemaker for many years, and her passion for cooking eventually led her to manage the main restaurant at Taman Safari Park in Bogor, Indonesia. There, she made a lasting impact, not only through her culinary skills but also by sharing her faith. Lena reached out to many of her employees, touching their hearts with both her words and her actions. She won many souls for Jesus. She was deeply respected and loved by those who worked with her.

In February 1998, Lena traveled to the United States to help her second daughter, Monique, who was about to have her first child. Shortly after, civil unrest and violence against Chinese Indonesians broke out in Indonesia. After much thought, Lena and her husband, Paul, decided not to return to Indonesia. Instead, they became a huge blessing to the Goay family, offering their love and support, especially in raising their grandchildren. Though they missed their children and grandchildren in Indonesia, they found joy in traveling back and forth between the USA and Indonesia for many years.

Lena was an active members of the Indonesian Good News Church for many years, a place where Lena felt at home. She loved God, singing, cooking, and being surrounded by fun, loving people. The church family, in turn, deeply cherished her.

Lena was known for her warmth and generosity. She found joy in blessing others, whether it was through her delicious homemade food or simply offering whatever she had. She loved with all her heart and always sought to make others happy. She thrived in the company of people of all ages and enjoyed spending time with her children’s friends whenever they visited, always making them feel like part of the family.

In addition to her cooking talent, Lena was also gifted with a green thumb. She spent countless hours tending to her garden, nurturing the plants with care. And now, thanks to her efforts, we are excited to soon enjoy the first fruit of the Jeruk Limo tree she planted years ago. Truly, her legacy of love and care continues to bloom in many ways.

She was very good with languages and dialects. She could pick up and learn a new language or dialect very quickly. She spoke Bahasa Indonesia, Dutch, English, and Sunda, as well as Javanese dialects. She learned French on a whim when Paul had a business relationship with the French. She learned Chinese from her Taiwanese friends. She picked up Batak and Hokkien while living in Medan for three years. Her ability to effortlessly adapt and communicate in so many languages was a testament to her sharp mind and boundless curiosity. It is unfortunate that the cruel disease, Alzheimer's, gradually stole this remarkable gift from her. Beginning to show signs in 2018, it progressively worsened, but even as her memory faded, the warmth of her spirit and the joy she brought to others remained unforgettable.

Lena is survived by her devoted husband, Paul Wardhana; her loving children, Ina and her husband Agus Tandiono, Monique and her husband Michael Goay, Andre and his wife Yenny Kurniawan, and Armand and his wife Lilia Purwodiharjo; and her cherished grandchildren, Raymond Tandiono and his wife Michelle S., James Wardhana, Stacy Wardhana, Claudia Wardhana and her husband Ian Mulyadi, Mitchell Goay, Michelle Goay, and Obert Wardhana, and her great granddaughters; Summer Tan and Gwyneth Mulyadi.