Friday, 4 April 2025

Celia Sarah Polen (1920 - 2007)

Celia Sarah Polen is the wife of Herzl Theodore Helfet, known as Theo, my maternal 1st cousin 2x removed. Helfet family HERE

Parents: Isaac Joseph Polen (Polonetsky) (1895 - 1966) and Rose Israel (1894 - 1988)

Born: 19 August 1920, in Johannesburg, South Africa

Hebrew name: Sarah daughter of Yitzchak Yisrael

Married: Herzl Theo Helfet on 22 September 1943 in Cape Town, South Africa. Herzl and Celia were both age 23

Marriage certificate for Herzl and Celia

Children
Their first child was born in 1949 when Herzl was 29 and Celia 28. Their last child was born in 1952 when Herzl was 32 and Celia 31

Cape Town, 27 February 1954, Left to right: Marcus Levin, Herzl and Celia Helfet, Zella Levin, Cynthia and Cyril Helfet and their children Barbara and Leon

The Helfet siblings and their spouses in Cape Town on 23 January 1960 

Back row: Cyril Helfet, Edna Helfet (Nee Landsman), Arnold Helfet, Herzl Helfet, Celia Helfet (Nee Polen), Arthur Helfet

Front row Girlie Meyers (Nee Helfet), Cynthia Helfet (Nee Bernstein), Nathalie Helfet (Nee Freedman) 

Correspondence
A letter from Celia to my mom dated 13 July 1955 congratulating my parents on their engagement

A letter from Celia to my mom dated 11 October 1956 

A postcard from Celia to my grandparents posted Cape Town, 15 October 1969

Death
15 March 2007 in Leeds, England age 86 and is buried in the Sinai Cemetery there, Section U9, Row M, PLot 1701

Tombstone for Theodore and Celia

HELFET
IN LOVING MEMORY OF HERZL THEODORE
ר הרצל מיאורוד בן ר' יהודה ליב
1920 - 2002
AND 
CELIA SARAH
האשה שרה בת ר' יצחק ישראל
1920-2007
ALWAYS MISSED BY THEIR SONS JON AND PETER FAMILY AND FRIENDS
תנצבת

Hebrew translation: "[abbreviation] Here is buried/ Mr. Hertzel Teodor son of Mr. Yehudah Leib/ the woman Sarah daughter of Mr. Yitzchak Yisrael/ [abbreviation] May his/her soul be bound in the bond of life."


Residence

In 1955 the family were living at 8 Kingsway, Pinelands, Cape Town, South Africa