Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Miriam Pearl Helfet (1915 - 1923)

Miriam Pearl Helfet is my 1st cousin 2x removed. Known as Pearl or Pearlie. 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: December 1915 in Calvinia, South Africa

Death
6 August 1923 (24 Av 5683) in Calvinia, South Africa at age 7 years and 9 months, from diptheria. Some documents give her date as death as 5th August but I have gone with the date given on her tombstone. She is buried in the Jewish section of the Calvinia cemetery

Death notices

Death notices for Miriam. Her date of death is given as both 5th and 6th of August and her name is given as Miriam Pearl Helfet and also Pearl Miriam Helfet

Tombstone
Miriam's tombstone in the Calvinia cemetery.
Inscription: In loving memory of Miriam Pearl Helfet, departed this life 6th August 1923, age 7 years and 9 months. M.H.D.S.R.I.P.

Hebrew translation: To the memory of / the [young] girl Miriam Perl Helfet / died 24 Av 5683 / (abbr) May her soul be bound in the bond of life. The word צִיּוּן "Tziyun" at top inside the Star of David means "grave mark"

Newspaper death notice
HELFET-At Calvinia, Sunday, 5th inst., Pearl Miriam, dearly-beloved daughter of Leon and Mrs. Helfet, aged 7¾  years.

Residence

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