Born: 1 February 1904 in Liverpool, England
Birth certificate for Zella Greenberg
Hebrew name: Zela daughter of Moshe
Married:
Marcus Levin on 1 February 1927 in Liverpool England. Marcus was 27 years old and Zella celebrated her 23rd birthday on her wedding day!
Children
Their first child, Jacob Harold, survived for only a few hours when born on 31 August 1928. Marcus was 29 and Zella 24. Their final child, also called Jacob Harold, but known as Jack, was born in 1932 when Marcus was 33 and Zella 28
- Jacob Levin 31 August 1928 - 31 August 1928
- Ruth Levin 1930 -
- Jacob Harold (Jack) Levin 1932 - 2024
Census details
1911
In 1911 Zella is living with her parents in a 6 roomed house at 377 Prescot Road, Old Swan, Liverpool, England. The family comprises her father Moss age 38, an employer contractor in plumbing and painting, her mother Minnie age 35, her brother Berthold age 9, Zella age 7 and Minnie's sister Esther Ettinger, age 33
.jpg)
1921
In 1921 Zella and her family are living at 48 Buckingham Road, New Brighton, Liverpool, England. Moss is now age 48, an employer, a building material merchant operating out of 379 Prescot Road, Old Swan, Liverpool, England. Minnie is now age 45, Berthold is now age 19 and a manager in the business and Zella in now age 17. Living with them is Miriam Hagnett age 20 and a domestic servant
.jpg)
.jpg)
1939 Register
In the 1939 register Marcus and Zella are living at 3 Yorke Avenue, Liverpool, England. His occupation is listed as manager - drapery business
.jpg)
Electoral register - extract
Freemasonry
Installation of Zella Levin as Worshipful Master of Southport Lodge on 27 October 1971 in Southport, England.
Death
On 4 July 1974, while visiting us in Johannesburg, South Africa, Zella suffered a stroke and died several days later on 15 July 1974. Her body was flown back to Liverpool and she was buried in the Broadgreen Cemetery, Liverpool, England, plot no R 03-003 on 26 July 1974
Liverpool Jewish Burial Record for Zella Levin
Tombstone inscription: In loving memory of Zella Levin, who passed away 15th July 1974 - 25th Tamuz 5734 in her 70th year. Adored and loved by her family and a host of friends. She was actually 70 at the time of her death, and not 69!
Hebrew translation: Here is buried a woman of valor Zela, daughter of Moshe, died 25 Tammuz 5734. May her soul be bound up in the bond of (eternal) life.
Death Notices
Condolence card for Zella Levin
Obituaries
Mrs Zella Levin
Southport Jewish community were shocked to hear of the death
of Mrs. Mark Levin, whilst on a visit to her daughter in South Africa. Zella
Levin, was the daughter of the late Alderman Moss Greenberg of Liverpool.
Together with her husband and family she settled in
Southport at the outbreak of the second war. She immediately interested herself
in local charities.
She was a staunch member of the now defunct Jewish Women's
Personal Service Guild, was on the Youth Aliyah Committee and the Jewish Blind
Aid Committee.
She was a member of the League of Jewish Women, Wizo, and a
long standing member of the committee of the Southport Hebrew and Philanthropic
Society. She was both chairman and treasurer of the ladies' section of the
society and laterly organised it almost single- handed.
She helped with the Natherlow Luncheon Club for the elderly
and was a past Worshipful Master of Southport Lodge 30. She was a most generous
person and no plea for help was ever unanswered. LIVERPOOL JEWISH GAZETTE. FRIDAY AUGUST 2 1974
MRS ZELLA LEVIN
It was with great sadness that Southport Jewry heard of the
tragic death of Zella Levin while on holiday in South Africa, writes Mr Leslie
Solomon, life president, Jewish Philanthropic Society.
She was an indefatigable worker for all charities. She was
instrumental in helping to form the Jewish Forces canteen, which during the war
served many service personnel of all ranks and denominations.
She worked for the blind and spastic homes, but her greatest
work was with the Jewish Philanthropic Society of which she was the ladies'
committee treasurer and chairman. Her cheery disposition endeared her to
everyone. LONDON JEWISH CHRONICLE JULY 26 1974
Mrs Zella Levin
THE Southport Jewish community was shocked to hear of the
death, in South Africa, of Mrs Zella Levin, of Blundell Drive, writes our
Southport correspondent, Mrs Alma Morris.
Zella Levin was the daughter of the late Alderman Moss
Greenberg, of Liverpool. With her husband, Mark, and family, she settled in
Southport at the out- break of the Second World War, and immediately interested
herself in local charities.
A staunch member of the now defunct Jewish Women's Personal
Service Guild, she was also on the Youth Aliyah Committee and the Jewish Blind
Aid Committee. She was a member of the League of Jewish Women, WIZO, and a
long- standing member of the committee of the Southport Hebrew and
Philanthropic Society.
Both chairman and secretary of this organisation's ladies
section, she latterly organised it almost single-handed.
Mrs Levin helped with the Hatherlow Luncheon Club for the
Elderly and was a past member of Southport Lodge 30. A most generous person,
she never refused a plea for help.
She is survived by her husband, son, daughter and
grandchildren. It was during a visit to her daughter, in South Africa, that her
death occurred. Manchester Jewish Telegraph
2 August 1974
Probate
,%201858-1995(21).jpg)
Zella Levin Probate of 30 September 1975. Her address is given as 50 Blundell Drive, Southport, England. The value of her estate was £37,477
Observations
My grandmother, Zella Greenberg, was born in Liverpool 1st
February 1904, the daughter of Moss Greenberg and Minnie Ettinger. She had an
elder brother, Berthold Greenberg, known as Bert, who was born in Liverpool on
23 July 1901. Zella was an accomplished pianist and the family were very well
off. She was named Zella by her father after a vaudeville performer he
admired! She was blind in one eye and
used to play piano to convalescing troops during the first World War. She was a
very good piano player and also used to paint. Ruth recalls her as being very
artistic. She also recalls that she had beautiful eyes. Zella died of a stroke
(cerebral thrombosis) on 15 July 1974 while visiting her daughter in
Johannesburg, South Africa. The body was
repatriated back to England and she is buried in the Liverpool, Broadgreen
Cemetery. Zella was a very warm and gregarious person who would talk to anyone
and made friends easily. She was very short, about 5-foot-tall, and had
pear-shaped hips. I was her favourite. It was a real shock when she suffered
her stroke. She was in our house and we called a doctor friend around the
corner who came, and called an ambulance which took her to the hospital. She
died in the Lady Dudley nursing home 11 days later. Her husband Mark, was
utterly lost by her passing, as he relied on her to almost everything for him
Sample letters
Photographs
.jpg)
Zella Levin at her daughter's wedding in Liverpool in April 1956
Zella and Marcus on holiday in the Kruger National Park, South Africa in the late 1950s
Miscellaneous documents
Zella Levin World War II National Registration Identity Card issued in June 1943
A Southport women's group which provides a vital link between
hospital patients and the outside world, met on Tuesday
The League of Jewish Women, who over the years have become
well known faces at the Promenade Hospital, the Southport Infirmary where they
man the mobile telephone service, welcomed to the meeting their North-west
regional chairman, Mrs. H. Conn. The region's treasurer, Mrs. L. Margolis, and
Southport’s Mrs. J. Webster.
The following members were elected to office for the forthcoming year: Mrs. M. Goldberg and Mrs. A E. Silverstone, joint presidents: Mrs. J. Webster, chairman; Mrs. S. Huglin, vice- chairman; Mrs. M. Levin, treasurer; and Mrs. H. Young, secretary
Residences
At the time of her marriage in 1927, Zella and her family are living at Beechworth, 4 Laurel Road, Liverpool, England. The property no longer exists
From 1929 to 1940 Marcus and Zella lived at 3 Yorke Avenue, Liverpool, England. It was a two-story townhouse in the Liverpool suburb of Sefton Park and the family were relatively prosperous, having a live-in maid
At the outbreak of World War II it was widely felt that Liverpool would be heavily bombed because of its extensive dockyards and therefore Mark and Zella decided to move elsewhere. They built a large three-story house at 50 Blundell Drive in Southport, a quiet seaside town 32 km north of Liverpool. Zella’s parents, Moss (Mo) Greenberg and Minnie (Nee Ettinger), came and lived with them. Minnie was an invalid who suffered from heart problems and Zella looked after her.
Liverpool was indeed heavily bombed during the War but Southport escaped relatively unscathed. The Woodvale Royal Air Force Station was established nearby for the defence of Liverpool and some German aircraft, pursued by fighter planes from the airfield were consequently forced to drop their bombs. One such bomb when dropped totally demolished a house in a neighbouring street, all that was left was a large bomb crater. The house in Blundell Drive had a makeshift air raid shelter for the family and the neighbours to shelter in. Mark was the local warden. The house also had a large garden, and an extensive vegetable patch was established to supplement the family diet. Both Zella and Mark were keen gardeners and I have many fond memories of playing in and enjoying their beautiful and extensive garden when we visited there in 1967 and 1968. Mark and Zella lived there until the mid 1970s. The Black and white photo of the house was taken on 10 August 1947. They lived there until Zella's death in 1974