Helene was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin the younger of two children. Her parents were Jewish immigrants who came over from Poland 100 years ago.

Two people she greatly admired were a great uncle and cousin, who remained in Poland, and were sent to concentration camps with their entire town during WWII. They sang beautifully, and this skill was what saved their lives, as the rest of the town was killed.

She was a student at the University of Wisconsin, when she met her future husband, Mel, and switched to PA, where he was attending Temple University dental school.

Helene worked as a kindergarten teacher, but lost her job when she became pregnant with their first child, , which was not unusual at that time. After serving in the air force in Kansas, they moved to Cleveland, and Mel opened his practice.

They had three daughters, and Helene kept busy, working in real estate and then as the dental office manager. She also worked at Talbots clothing store, where she was often one of their top 10 salespeople. Helene was often sent to the home office in Boston to teach other employees her skills. She was widowed at 72, but keeps busy with her 3 daughters and grandchildren.

When she retired, Helene joined a swing dancing group, and volunteers with the National Council of Jewish Women with their EntertainMobile, bring Broadway style music to nursing homes.

She spends winters with her oldest daughter in Florida. Her personal philosophy is the golden rule, treating others as she wishes to be treated. She tries to make one person laugh every day.