Mrs. Helianthe Mercelina Silos' Obituary
Helianthe (hilly) Silos
Date of passing: july 28, 2016
Wife of: George Humphrey Nelson Polanen (deceased 1970)
Loving Mother of Humphrey P. Polanen
Dear Sister of Lionel Silos, Ursula Breeveld-Silos, Stanley Silos and Ronnie Silos
Dear Grandmother of Simone Polanen and Christina Polanen
A Native of Suriname, South America. aged 93.
Daughter of Captain Chris Silos and Wilhelmina Bloedoorn-Silos
Heli volunteered for the army during WWII, and served in Suriname as a driver of military supply vehicles
Mrs. Silos attended the Universities of Nebraska and Maryland and received a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from the University of Puerto Rico in 1963 completing her course of study in three years in spanish, which she did not speak at the beginning. she earned also a masters degree in education from the University of Minnesota at the age of 57 fulfilling a life long desire and ambition for graduate studies.
Her career included leading a women’s health, family and nutrition program for the ministry of agriculture in Suriname, hosting a tv program in Suriname on nutricious meals, a middle school educator in Minnesota and Los Angeles Southwest College, where she taught English as a second language. In the Bay Area she worked for social service programs in Oakland and continued her involvement with communities of recent immigrants from India and Latin America by teaching english and counseling them on adjusting to their new country and by encouraging young women to pursue their education.
Friends are invited to visit at the Chapel of the Chimes,4499 Piedmont avenue, Oakland, Ca 94611
August 12, 2016 from 9 am to 11 am and attend services at 11 am on August 12,2016 followed by
entombment at Chapel of the Chimes
reception on site immediately following
What’s your fondest memory of Helianthe?
What’s a lesson you learned from Helianthe?
Share a story where Helianthe's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Helianthe you’ll never forget.
How did Helianthe make you smile?