Helen''s bio is a work in process:
Helen Jane Kennedy was the daughter of James Bernard & Frieda Mae (Landgraf) Kennedy. Helen was born in the family home on Rohns on the East side of Detroit.
She was the youngest of 5 children. Helen's siblings were.
1. Ruth Genevieve Kennedy, 1909 MI - 2005 FL, married Raymond Hanneman, had 3 children.
2. John Edward Kennedy, 1911 MI - 1996 MI, married Mildred Wayrynen, had 3 children.
3. Bernice Marion Kennedy, MI - 1913, (she was adopted with Helen by her Aunt Maud & Uncle Sam)
4. James Bernard Kennedy, 1915 MI - 1986 FL, married Helen Choate, no children.
When Helen was 18 months old she lost her mother, Frieda. She died in December 1918 during the world flu epidemic. Frieda died leaving her husband James with the challenge of working and raising 5 young children. James hired many caregivers only to have them steal away with money and household items. One left Helen with only the diaper she was wearing, no other clothing. This was devastating.
Helen's Aunt Maud Genevieve (Kennedy) Brenn in California had no children. Maud and her husband Sam wanted to have children. The families talked, it was very hard decision for her father James, but it was decided. Maud and Sam Brenn would adopt both Helen and her sister Bernice. This occurred sometime in 1920.
Helen's adoptive parents were
Maud G. Kennedy Brenn Find A Grave Memorial 15722171
Samuel F. Brenn Find A Grave Memorial 15722441
Growing up Helen & her older sister Bernice were very close. In 1932 when Bernice was on a trip to college she was killed in an auto accident. The loss of Bernice really hit Helen hard. Her sister, best friend and confidant was gone.
After high school in Pomona Helen went to Whittier College and graduated in 1940. She was a teacher for many years.
In 1941 Helen's aunt Ruth Joliette Kennedy, a nurse, moved from Illinois to California to live near her sister Maud, Helen's adoptive mother. Helen was close with her aunt.
In 1942 after two decades of not seeing her birth father James and her siblings Helen traveled to Detroit for a reunion. (see the photo) Helen and her sister Ruth maintained a very close contact for the rest of their lives. (This poster and his family continued the contacts.)
On 10 May 1945 Helen married Earl Wayne House. He had proposed to her many times over the years only to be rejected. His love & persistence finally paid off.
The couple stayed in the Los Angeles & Orange county area for the rest of their lives. Through the years they bought and sold many houses.
After many years of trying to have a family they were blessed with a son Earl Wayne House Jr in 1954.
After her husband Earl died Helen continued to live in Orange County. She and her son Wayne were very, very close. As previously noted family was always very important to Helen.
Note, Helen's ancestral Landgraf line had many who lived to be their mid to late 90s when they died. (One cousin, Carl Altz at age 98 he was still driving annually from Michigan to Florida and back.)
....
Helen Jane Kennedy was the daughter of James Bernard & Frieda Mae (Landgraf) Kennedy. Helen was born in the family home on Rohns on the East side of Detroit.
She was the youngest of 5 children. Helen's siblings were.
1. Ruth Genevieve Kennedy, 1909 MI - 2005 FL, married Raymond Hanneman, had 3 children.
2. John Edward Kennedy, 1911 MI - 1996 MI, married Mildred Wayrynen, had 3 children.
3. Bernice Marion Kennedy, MI - 1913, (she was adopted with Helen by her Aunt Maud & Uncle Sam)
4. James Bernard Kennedy, 1915 MI - 1986 FL, married Helen Choate, no children.
When Helen was 18 months old she lost her mother, Frieda. She died in December 1918 during the world flu epidemic. Frieda died leaving her husband James with the challenge of working and raising 5 young children. James hired many caregivers only to have them steal away with money and household items. One left Helen with only the diaper she was wearing, no other clothing. This was devastating.
Helen's Aunt Maud Genevieve (Kennedy) Brenn in California had no children. Maud and her husband Sam wanted to have children. The families talked, it was very hard decision for her father James, but it was decided. Maud and Sam Brenn would adopt both Helen and her sister Bernice. This occurred sometime in 1920.
Helen's adoptive parents were
Maud G. Kennedy Brenn Find A Grave Memorial 15722171
Samuel F. Brenn Find A Grave Memorial 15722441
Growing up Helen & her older sister Bernice were very close. In 1932 when Bernice was on a trip to college she was killed in an auto accident. The loss of Bernice really hit Helen hard. Her sister, best friend and confidant was gone.
After high school in Pomona Helen went to Whittier College and graduated in 1940. She was a teacher for many years.
In 1941 Helen's aunt Ruth Joliette Kennedy, a nurse, moved from Illinois to California to live near her sister Maud, Helen's adoptive mother. Helen was close with her aunt.
In 1942 after two decades of not seeing her birth father James and her siblings Helen traveled to Detroit for a reunion. (see the photo) Helen and her sister Ruth maintained a very close contact for the rest of their lives. (This poster and his family continued the contacts.)
On 10 May 1945 Helen married Earl Wayne House. He had proposed to her many times over the years only to be rejected. His love & persistence finally paid off.
The couple stayed in the Los Angeles & Orange county area for the rest of their lives. Through the years they bought and sold many houses.
After many years of trying to have a family they were blessed with a son Earl Wayne House Jr in 1954.
After her husband Earl died Helen continued to live in Orange County. She and her son Wayne were very, very close. As previously noted family was always very important to Helen.
Note, Helen's ancestral Landgraf line had many who lived to be their mid to late 90s when they died. (One cousin, Carl Altz at age 98 he was still driving annually from Michigan to Florida and back.)
....
Helen''s bio is a work in process:
Helen Jane Kennedy was the daughter of James Bernard & Frieda Mae (Landgraf) Kennedy. Helen was born in the family home on Rohns on the East side of Detroit.
She was the youngest of 5 children. Helen's siblings were.
1. Ruth Genevieve Kennedy, 1909 MI - 2005 FL, married Raymond Hanneman, had 3 children.
2. John Edward Kennedy, 1911 MI - 1996 MI, married Mildred Wayrynen, had 3 children.
3. Bernice Marion Kennedy, MI - 1913, (she was adopted with Helen by her Aunt Maud & Uncle Sam)
4. James Bernard Kennedy, 1915 MI - 1986 FL, married Helen Choate, no children.
When Helen was 18 months old she lost her mother, Frieda. She died in December 1918 during the world flu epidemic. Frieda died leaving her husband James with the challenge of working and raising 5 young children. James hired many caregivers only to have them steal away with money and household items. One left Helen with only the diaper she was wearing, no other clothing. This was devastating.
Helen's Aunt Maud Genevieve (Kennedy) Brenn in California had no children. Maud and her husband Sam wanted to have children. The families talked, it was very hard decision for her father James, but it was decided. Maud and Sam Brenn would adopt both Helen and her sister Bernice. This occurred sometime in 1920.
Helen's adoptive parents were
Maud G. Kennedy Brenn Find A Grave Memorial 15722171
Samuel F. Brenn Find A Grave Memorial 15722441
Growing up Helen & her older sister Bernice were very close. In 1932 when Bernice was on a trip to college she was killed in an auto accident. The loss of Bernice really hit Helen hard. Her sister, best friend and confidant was gone.
After high school in Pomona Helen went to Whittier College and graduated in 1940. She was a teacher for many years.
In 1941 Helen's aunt Ruth Joliette Kennedy, a nurse, moved from Illinois to California to live near her sister Maud, Helen's adoptive mother. Helen was close with her aunt.
In 1942 after two decades of not seeing her birth father James and her siblings Helen traveled to Detroit for a reunion. (see the photo) Helen and her sister Ruth maintained a very close contact for the rest of their lives. (This poster and his family continued the contacts.)
On 10 May 1945 Helen married Earl Wayne House. He had proposed to her many times over the years only to be rejected. His love & persistence finally paid off.
The couple stayed in the Los Angeles & Orange county area for the rest of their lives. Through the years they bought and sold many houses.
After many years of trying to have a family they were blessed with a son Earl Wayne House Jr in 1954.
After her husband Earl died Helen continued to live in Orange County. She and her son Wayne were very, very close. As previously noted family was always very important to Helen.
Note, Helen's ancestral Landgraf line had many who lived to be their mid to late 90s when they died. (One cousin, Carl Altz at age 98 he was still driving annually from Michigan to Florida and back.)
....
Helen Jane Kennedy was the daughter of James Bernard & Frieda Mae (Landgraf) Kennedy. Helen was born in the family home on Rohns on the East side of Detroit.
She was the youngest of 5 children. Helen's siblings were.
1. Ruth Genevieve Kennedy, 1909 MI - 2005 FL, married Raymond Hanneman, had 3 children.
2. John Edward Kennedy, 1911 MI - 1996 MI, married Mildred Wayrynen, had 3 children.
3. Bernice Marion Kennedy, MI - 1913, (she was adopted with Helen by her Aunt Maud & Uncle Sam)
4. James Bernard Kennedy, 1915 MI - 1986 FL, married Helen Choate, no children.
When Helen was 18 months old she lost her mother, Frieda. She died in December 1918 during the world flu epidemic. Frieda died leaving her husband James with the challenge of working and raising 5 young children. James hired many caregivers only to have them steal away with money and household items. One left Helen with only the diaper she was wearing, no other clothing. This was devastating.
Helen's Aunt Maud Genevieve (Kennedy) Brenn in California had no children. Maud and her husband Sam wanted to have children. The families talked, it was very hard decision for her father James, but it was decided. Maud and Sam Brenn would adopt both Helen and her sister Bernice. This occurred sometime in 1920.
Helen's adoptive parents were
Maud G. Kennedy Brenn Find A Grave Memorial 15722171
Samuel F. Brenn Find A Grave Memorial 15722441
Growing up Helen & her older sister Bernice were very close. In 1932 when Bernice was on a trip to college she was killed in an auto accident. The loss of Bernice really hit Helen hard. Her sister, best friend and confidant was gone.
After high school in Pomona Helen went to Whittier College and graduated in 1940. She was a teacher for many years.
In 1941 Helen's aunt Ruth Joliette Kennedy, a nurse, moved from Illinois to California to live near her sister Maud, Helen's adoptive mother. Helen was close with her aunt.
In 1942 after two decades of not seeing her birth father James and her siblings Helen traveled to Detroit for a reunion. (see the photo) Helen and her sister Ruth maintained a very close contact for the rest of their lives. (This poster and his family continued the contacts.)
On 10 May 1945 Helen married Earl Wayne House. He had proposed to her many times over the years only to be rejected. His love & persistence finally paid off.
The couple stayed in the Los Angeles & Orange county area for the rest of their lives. Through the years they bought and sold many houses.
After many years of trying to have a family they were blessed with a son Earl Wayne House Jr in 1954.
After her husband Earl died Helen continued to live in Orange County. She and her son Wayne were very, very close. As previously noted family was always very important to Helen.
Note, Helen's ancestral Landgraf line had many who lived to be their mid to late 90s when they died. (One cousin, Carl Altz at age 98 he was still driving annually from Michigan to Florida and back.)
....
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See more House or Kennedy-Brenn memorials in:
- Riverside National Cemetery House or Kennedy-Brenn
- Riverside House or Kennedy-Brenn
- Riverside County House or Kennedy-Brenn
- California House or Kennedy-Brenn
- USA House or Kennedy-Brenn
- Find a Grave House or Kennedy-Brenn
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