Varangkana "Lek" Daniel, 69, of Melbourne, Florida passed away December 15, 2015 at Holmes Regional Medical Center.

She was born September 25, 1946 in Bangkok, Thailand to the late Vatcharin and Udomratana Mahandatanapant. Lek met James W. Daniel while he was stationed in Thailand with the United States Air Force. She moved Homestead, FL in 1974 with their oldest son Christopher and was very proud when she received her United States citizenship in 2005. After living many years in Homestead, Mrs. Daniel and her family moved to Mac Dill Air Force Base in Tampa, Oklahoma, Gainesville before settling in Melbourne in 1993.

She was devoted to her family and her greatest joy was her grandchildren. Lek loved cooking authentic Thai cuisine, gardening and collecting frogs. Mrs. Daniel enjoyed traveling all over the United States with her husband in their RV and collecting shot glasses and refrigerator magnets from all of their trips. Lek had a kind and gentle heart with a great sense of humor and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

She leaves her memories to be cherished by her husband of 45 years, James Daniel; step-daughter, Christine Daniel of Melbourne; son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Kat Daniel of Melbourne; daughter, Veronica Robertson of Melbourne; grandchildren, Karena and Tyler Daniel of Melbourne; 4 brothers and 2 sisters, whom she visited 6 years ago in Thailand.

A gathering of family and friends will be held Sunday, December 20, 2015 from 1-3pm with a 2pm Celebration of Life. Interment will be held at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery at a later date.