Getrude Leila (Girlie) Helfet (1914 - 1992)

Gertrude Leila Helfet, known as Girlie, is my 1st cousin 2x removed and also my Godmother. Helfet family HERE

Parents: Leon Helfet (1877 - 1945) and Sarah Ann Levin (1880 - 1953)

Tombstones for her parents Leon Helfet and Sarah Ann Levin. They are both buried in the Pinelands no 1 Jewish Cemetery in Cape Town, South Africa

Born: 29 July 1914 in Calvinia, South Africa

HELFET.-On Wednesday, the 29th of July, at Calvinia, C.P., South Africa, to Mr. and Mrs. Leon Helfet (née Sara Levin, of Liverpool), a daughter (Gertrude Leila). (Jewish Chronicle 4 September 1914)

Early photo

Ceres

Cape province

Dec 6th 1914

Dearest Hannah (her sister-in-law)

Am sending you, at last, a photo of my little family. Only regret that my dear hubby is not with us, but as there is such a good photographer here, it was an opportunity not to be missed, especially as I wanted to introduce you to my darling little Girlie. She is very tiny here but T.G. she is really a splendid child for her age.

Baba is in his favourite cadet attitude. It is too bad that he is not smiling, for smile come far more natural to him than seriousness in fact it was quite an effort for him to keep his face straight and you will see in Esther’s that the smile is nearly bursting through. Hope you like our little group. 

Sincerely trust all is well with you all.

Do write, dear, am longing to hear from you again.

With ever fond love from us all to you and your loving sister. Sara

The picture is as follows: Ceres, Cape Province, South Africa, December 1914. L-R, Cyril Helfet, Girlie Helfet (on the maid Esther's lap), Arnold Helfet, Sara Helfet and Arthur Helfet

Married: Isadore (Issie) Meyers on 7 March 1937 in Cape Town, South Africa. Girlie was age 22 and Issie age 30

Antenuptial contract for Girlie and Issie dated 18 January 1937

Marriage of Girlie and Issie Meyers in Sea Point, Cape Town on 7 March 1937

Children

Their first child was born in 1938 when Girlie was 24 and Issie 32. Their last child was born in 1946 when Girlie was 31 and Issie 39

• Avril Nola Meyers 1938 - 2012
• Pamela Meyers 1942 - 2020
• Leone Hilary Meyers 1946 -

Travel to England and Europe in 1949

Girlie and her mother Sara travelled to England on 7 April 1949 aboard the Bloemfontein arriving in Southampton on 24 April 1949. They returned to South Africa on 22 July 1949, as per Sara's diary

Photo 

Girlie with her siblings and their spouses in Cape Town on 23 January 1960. Back row: Cyril Helfet, Edna Helfet (Nee Landsman), Arnold Helfet, Theo Helfet, Celia Helfet (Nee Polen), Arthur Helfet. Front row Girlie Meyers (Nee Helfet), Cynthia Helfet (Nee Bernstein), Nathalie Helfet (Nee Freedman) 

Biographical information

Girlie, born in 1914, studied music at the Cape Town University and then joined the Civil Service in Pretoria. She married a Chemist, I. Meyers, in Pretoria, and has three daughters. (a biographical extract written by her brother Arthur)

Letter

A letter from Girlie to my parents dated 8 April 1956 congratulating them on their wedding.

Pictures

A very poor quality photo of Issie and Girlie (at left) with my grandparents Marcus and Zella Levin at the Kruger National Park, South Africa in the late 1950s

Pretoria 1959. L-R, Rosalie (Dinkie) Morris (Nee Wasserman) holding Clive Wasserman with his brother Anthony in front of him, Pamela Meyers, my mom Ruth, my sister Sarah-Nan getting a piggyback from my grandmother Zella Levin, and at the far right is Girlie Meyers. In the second photo Issie Meyers is added between my mother and Girlie Meyers; Leonie Meyers is at the back on the far right, and my grandfather Marcus Levin, smoking his habitual pipe, is now seated next to his wife Zella Levin. Seated on the far left is Ettie Morris and on the far right is Abe Morris

Pretoria 1959. L-R, My sister Sarah-Nan, behind her is Leonie Meyers, then Pamela Meyers, and at the far right is Girlie

Girlie with her grandchildren Gary and Sara Galanti, mid to late 1970s

Girlie Helfet at left in Johannesburg, September 1991

Death

29 March 1992 in Pretoria, South Africa at age 77, from breast cancer. She is buried in the Jewish section of the Rebecca Street cemetery section D, location no 13, grave no 2717

Residences

In Calvinia Girlie and her family lived at Carmel Villa in 19 Pastorie Street, which her father Leon had built. It is now a bed and breakfast establishment

In Pretoria the family lived at 75 Nicolson St, Bailey`s Muckleneuk, Pretoria, South Africa. I remember a giant cactus in one corner of the garden

At the time of Issie's death in 1973 he and Girlie were living at 9 Lynwood Hof, the Ring, Lynwood, Pretoria, South Africa