Helene B. Perkins

Helen’s parents immigrated to New York from a Russian controlled portion of Poland around 1908; and at Ellis Island, the family name was Americanized to Berry. The family settled in Brooklyn New York near St Gabriels and St Fortunata parishes. The family grew to five girls and one boy; and Helene was the sole survivor of the original 6 siblings when she died at age 98. Her father, Joseph, was a hard working carpenter; and her mother, Mary, was a homemaker for the large family; and also helped at times with the grandchildren. Joseph’s sister lived a few houses away and also had a family. Joseph, being a fine carpenter, had a basement filled with wood working tools that mostly followed him from Poland, and he later loved to show Helene’s only child how to use them starting around age 5. The basement also had a coal-fired steam boiler that had to be manually stoked around the clock to make hot water and heat the house. When Joseph was out working, all family members pitched-in with coal shoveling, and shoveling ashes. Joseph built a tall flagpole in front of their house, where the family proudly flew the American Flag, and they updated the flag as some stars were added for additional new states. Joseph did not initially realize how that patriotism would manifest itself in a time of need. Helen attended Public School 202 that is situated along Linden Blvd in Brooklyn about 4 blocks from where the family lived; but later attended a commercial high school that involved travel every day. With the skills acquired in those schools, Helene worked her way into a job as foreman over 8-10 other workers in a clothing factory, Alaton’s Model Figure Form. After World War II expanded, in 1943 there was a call for female volunteers to join the Marines; and guess who walked past the family flag pole, defying Joseph, and went into NYC to be the first in line at the Marine recruiter? Yes, Helene stunned the whole family and became one of the first new women Marines in 1943, graduating with about 40 other gals, and their group picture is in a glass display case at the Arlington Museum. Helene’s original uniform was also donated to that museum. After military job training in Memphis TN to become an Aviation Machinist Mate, the 5’-2.5” tall blue eyed Helene met a 6’ tall Marine named Howard Joseph Perkins who also was in Marine aviation as a metal smith. His family came from the Bronx, and was British/Irish. His dad descended from 6 Perkins brothers that came to New York from England; and his mom, Ethyl, had lineage from Ireland. After two years of service, both married, left the Marines, and gave birth to Howard Alan Perkins in mid-1946. Helene achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. With all the hands-on skills in the family with tools and machines, Howard Jr became well versed in working with tools, creating projects, and later opted to become a mechanical engineer. Under Helene’s guidance, Howard Jr became the first male to graduate from college in the family. If you meet Howard Jr you would agree that her guidance in achieving that was actually nothing short of a modern day miracle. When Howard Jr was about 6 years old, his little cousin Madeleine lost her Mom due to a heart condition. Helene took in Madeleine and raised her until she went off to college; and she was just like a sister to Howard Jr. Both were brought to religious instructions, and received the applicable sacraments. After a career as an Executive Secretary in the main office of Friendly Frost Appliance Stores in Westbury Long Island; Helene (and Howard Sr) retired and moved to New Port Richey FL in the mid-1980s. There Helene joined the Woman Marine Association and became Treasurer for about a decade. The gals did fundraising for wounded vets, and other beneficial projects including successfully lobbying for a new National Cemetery for the West Coast of Florida. Her main hobby during retirement was knitting blankets and clothing; and she loved to go on excursions with the Ladies Clubs from various HOAs. Helene had little time for hobbies because she was usually busy helping elderly and sick folks from the community with their shopping and other needs. Helene was widowed about 15 years later; and her son subsequently arranged for her to relocate closer to him in Heathrow, FL; because she began to require some supervision, and later needed to be under the same roof as her son, as memory troubles became more severe. Eventually, skilled nursing home care became a necessity; and Helene then lived sequentially at both Lake Mary Health & Rehab, and the beautiful Solaris Nursing Home in Windermere. During Helene’s time in Central Florida she routinely attended mass at Annunciation Catholic Church, many times on weekdays with her daughter-in-law, and she was an Emmaus Sister and loved to visit the church Grotto to pray. She leaves behind Howard Jr; two grand-children, and one great grandson (and Madeleine is a retired teacher living in central Italy).

Helene B. Perkins

October 8, 1919 - January 4, 2018