Obituary for Helen Cohen (Green)
HELEN COHEN 1920-2020
Helen Cohen (the former Helen Green of Fall River, Ma.) passed away at her Assisted Living Residence in Poway, Ca. on March 31, 2020 at the age of 99. She was born on August 25, 1920 in Fall River, Ma. where she resided until her marriage in August 1943 to Hy Cohen, (a native of New Bedford, Ma.) at which time she moved to New Bedford, where she and her family lived until their move to Rancho Bernardo, San Diego in 1974. Helen was predeceased by her cherished daughter, Wendy Cohen in December 1985, and the "love of her life" husband, Hy Cohen, in April 2010, to whom she was deeply devoted for 67 years. She is survived by three of her four children: J y l (Jerylee) Cohen of Berkeley, Ca. Nancy Cohen, and Larry Cohen of Los Gatos, Ca.
As a full time and deeply committed mother, Helen's entire life centered around her 4 beloved children, her dear husband, volunteer work, teaching, music, and creativity. She was a founding member of Temple Adat Shalom - Poway, Ca. in 1974, and an active and enthusiastic participant in her beloved Congregation for the last 45 years, serving on every committee that existed. Helen's deep identification with Judaism and its inherent values informed her life. Her meaningful relationships with Rabbi David and Cantor Lori were forever close to her heart. Helen joyfully taught Kg Sunday School at Temple Adat Shalom for almost 30 years, and genuinely loved each child as if one of her own. The lively annual performance by her young students enacting the Jewish Holidays, was an original piece which Helen lovingly wrote and directed.
Back in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Helen delighted in her many years as a Brownie Scout Leader for 2nd graders, regularly entertained at Senior Centers and Residences for the Blind by playing the piano as well as performing in musical skits, and diligently tutored elementary school children in reading. She was active in the New Bedford JCC, Tifereth Israel Synagogue Sisterhood, and Hadassah. Helen cordially hosted exchange students from Japan to live with her family for successive summers, given her fascination of learning first hand about other cultures. After moving to Rancho Bernardo in the Fall of 1974, Helen enthusiastically became involved in her new community's "Welcome Wagon" organization for new residents. She happily sang in the Rancho Bernardo Chorale for many years. The RB Chorale, and her warm relationship with its esteemed founder/director/conductor, Pat Bean were among the highlights of Helen's life.
From early childhood on, Helen loved the Fine Arts - especially classical music and theater- attending live performances whenever possible in New Bedford, Boston, and San Diego. She was a talented writer, as well as an extremely creative seamstress, baker, and innovator of colorful and unique home-made Halloween and Purim costumes. Throughout the years, Helen creatively enhanced her everyday outfits with eye-catching dramatic accessories. Helen's zest for life, huge radiant smile, sparkling eyes, contagious laughter, extroverted, enthusiastic, entertaining, and endlessly curious personality, warm, caring heart, helpful spirit, admirable resiliency, and genuine interest in other people and their life stories will be fondly remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Helen Cohen (the former Helen Green of Fall River, Ma.) passed away at her Assisted Living Residence in Poway, Ca. on March 31, 2020 at the age of 99. She was born on August 25, 1920 in Fall River, Ma. where she resided until her marriage in August 1943 to Hy Cohen, (a native of New Bedford, Ma.) at which time she moved to New Bedford, where she and her family lived until their move to Rancho Bernardo, San Diego in 1974. Helen was predeceased by her cherished daughter, Wendy Cohen in December 1985, and the "love of her life" husband, Hy Cohen, in April 2010, to whom she was deeply devoted for 67 years. She is survived by three of her four children: J y l (Jerylee) Cohen of Berkeley, Ca. Nancy Cohen, and Larry Cohen of Los Gatos, Ca.
As a full time and deeply committed mother, Helen's entire life centered around her 4 beloved children, her dear husband, volunteer work, teaching, music, and creativity. She was a founding member of Temple Adat Shalom - Poway, Ca. in 1974, and an active and enthusiastic participant in her beloved Congregation for the last 45 years, serving on every committee that existed. Helen's deep identification with Judaism and its inherent values informed her life. Her meaningful relationships with Rabbi David and Cantor Lori were forever close to her heart. Helen joyfully taught Kg Sunday School at Temple Adat Shalom for almost 30 years, and genuinely loved each child as if one of her own. The lively annual performance by her young students enacting the Jewish Holidays, was an original piece which Helen lovingly wrote and directed.
Back in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Helen delighted in her many years as a Brownie Scout Leader for 2nd graders, regularly entertained at Senior Centers and Residences for the Blind by playing the piano as well as performing in musical skits, and diligently tutored elementary school children in reading. She was active in the New Bedford JCC, Tifereth Israel Synagogue Sisterhood, and Hadassah. Helen cordially hosted exchange students from Japan to live with her family for successive summers, given her fascination of learning first hand about other cultures. After moving to Rancho Bernardo in the Fall of 1974, Helen enthusiastically became involved in her new community's "Welcome Wagon" organization for new residents. She happily sang in the Rancho Bernardo Chorale for many years. The RB Chorale, and her warm relationship with its esteemed founder/director/conductor, Pat Bean were among the highlights of Helen's life.
From early childhood on, Helen loved the Fine Arts - especially classical music and theater- attending live performances whenever possible in New Bedford, Boston, and San Diego. She was a talented writer, as well as an extremely creative seamstress, baker, and innovator of colorful and unique home-made Halloween and Purim costumes. Throughout the years, Helen creatively enhanced her everyday outfits with eye-catching dramatic accessories. Helen's zest for life, huge radiant smile, sparkling eyes, contagious laughter, extroverted, enthusiastic, entertaining, and endlessly curious personality, warm, caring heart, helpful spirit, admirable resiliency, and genuine interest in other people and their life stories will be fondly remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.