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Helene Whyte PEARCE
1921 - 1985

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• Birth	20APR1921	4 Adelaide St, Petone. NZ   [1]
  Gender	Female
  Died	03APR1985	Ryde Hospital, Eastwood. NSW   [2]
  Buried	04APR1985	Northern Suburbs Cemetery, Ryde. NSW
  Person ID	I2	Jean Mailer Forsyth
  Last Modified	4 Mar 2012

  
  

  Father	Benjamin Martin Athol PEARCE,   b. 13AUG1891, Onehunga. NZ ,   d. 26MAY1960, Sydney. NSW
  Mother	Jean Mailer FORSYTH,   b. 19FEB1889, 95 Lower Bridge St, Stirling. Scotland ,   d. 29DEC1968, Parramatta, Sydney. NSW
  Married	02MAY1919	5 Phillips St, Paisley. Scotland
  Photos		Benjamin Pearce & family 1923 per Corinthic.jpg
  		Benjamin Jean & Helen Pearce to UK 1922.jpg
  		Benjamin & Jean Pearce 1930 Electoral Roll.jpg
  		Benjamin & Jean Pearce 1936 Electoral Roll.jpg
  		Pea1919bjmForsyth.jpg
  Family ID	F76	Group Sheet

  
  

• Photos		Pea1921hb.jpg
  		HelCorinthic.jpg
  		HelDotJean.jpg
  		Cor1985hd.jpg

  
  

• Notes

  Helen Whyte Pearce was born 20Apr1921 at 4 Adelaide St, Petone - which is a suburb of Wellington NZ. She was the eldest of three daughters born to Jack and Jean Pearce (nee Forsyth). The family returned to Scotland after a passport was issued on 16Oct1922. Helene’s photo is on the passport with her mother. Helene was christened in Scotland explaining ‘Whyte’ as her middle name - a Scottish custom of having family names instead of christian names - which was her grandmother’s maiden name. There are two photos of Helene with her mother when she was very small - one has her sitting in a pram. There are a number of photos of her with her parents and with her little sister Jean who was born in 1925. There are two school group photos taken after the family came to Australia. Helene had very dark hair and high cheek bones and ofter earned the nickname ‘chink’ at school! Helene was a very good student and had beautiful handwriting. There are copies of her Grade 5 and 6 half yearly examination report cards. She entered many Fancy Writing competitions at the local show from 1932 to 1935. There was an exercise book full of examples of her work but that has sadly gone missing. Each page had a saying - e.g. A stitch in time saves nine - with the capital A done very ornately and the rest in fancy printing. Helene was Dux of Brookvale primary school in Grade 6 then went on to Manly High school where she did a domestic course. She had won a Scholarship to Fort Street Girls School but the shortage of money for uniforms etc meant Helene could never attain her scholastic dream. The depression had a marked affect on many lives. Soon after this she left school although she had attained an excellent pass. She went to work in a fruit shop, was an usherette at the local Embassy Theatre, later a companion to Mrs Walls. She also helped to run a guest house for Mrs Walls in Berkeley St, Manly. Helene loved to ice skate and it became her passion. She loved both roller and iceskating becoming very adept at figure skating and hockey on ice.She had a friend with a tiny sailing boat. They used to go sailing off Fairlight Beach. Helene married Thomas Maurice McKeown on 23May1942 at Manly Registry Office. Her mother and sister were the only people present. Tom served in the Army in the Military Police, later joining his father and brothers on a property "Molly Dale" on the north coast of N.S.W. when he was discharged on 3Jun1944. Helene and Tom had a daughter Sandra b 12Apr1943 in Sydney and later another daughter Vicki b 21Aug1948 at Dorrigo. For the next thirty years Helene remained on the farm. She made many wonderful friends who remained so throughout her life. She always had a helping hand for those in need, often walking long distances. She kept her sense of fun and humour even though at times her own life was far from happy. She was often lonely, especially after her sister Dorothy moved back to Sydney in the early 1960s. Her daughters spent a lot of their time at boarding schools. Tom remained farming until his death 1Sep1979, aged 59. He is buried in Dorrigo Cemetery. The property was sold and Helene moved to Sydney where three years later she married Neville Corvisy on 26May1982. She died 3Apr1985, aged 63 after a trip to N.Z where she caught a virus. She was buried in Northern Suburbs Cemetery on 4Apr1985 - Location RCLawn/Block 16/0369. SMH 4 April 1985 CORVISY Helene Whyte April 3, 1985, at hospital, of Epping, dearly loved wife of Neville, loving mother of Sandra and Vicki, Adrian and Philip, fond mother-in-law of John, Kevin, and Sue, dear nana to their families. Rest in peace. Prayers will be recited at the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Epping 4 April 1985. Private interment.




• Sources

  [S1050] Certificate obtained, NZ Reg 39? in 1921. [S1050] Certificate obtained, NSW Reg 9776 in 1985.