Barbara Joy Helfant

Barbara Joy Helfant, 94, passed away on December 10, 2023. Barbara was born in Brooklyn, New York to the late Murray and Fanny Wacke. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Seymour who she ran off and eloped with when she was only 18 and remained married to until he passed away. She was also preceded in death by her loving sister and brother-in-law Marilyn and Jerome Lambert. Barbara was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and eventually moved with Seymour to Virginia Beach, VA. As a young woman Barbara was a ballet dancer and owned and ran her own ballet school. She was an actress and comedian and along with a partner, Kitty Kimble worked the Catskill Mountain circuit. After moving to Virginia Beach she became a Real Estate Broker and remained such until she retired. She loved boating and playing golf with her husband and was always the life of the party. Barbara was an avid Mah Johng player and loved to play Black Jack. But nothing and no one was more important and more loved by her than her 3 grandchildren Rachel Simmelink Vinson of Virginia Beach, Joanne Simmelink Wieworka of Richmond and Justin Frye of New York City.

Left behind to cherish her memory are her daughters, Jill Simmelink and her husband John Simmelink and Andi Helfant-Frye and her husband William Frye, her grandchildren above and her great-grandchildren Ryder, Mila, AJ and Izzy. She had a special place in her heart for all of her nieces and nephews: Sheila Josephberg of Palm Beach, Joan Irvine of Seattle and Robert Helfant(deceased), Marvin Neuwirth of Wilmington, NC, Freddie Neuwirth of Wilmington, NC and Robin Neuwirth of Wilmington, NC.

So…..keep your head up high and if ever in doubt, just shake it up baby and Twist and Shout

A small graveside memorial will be held on December 12, 2023 at Woodlawn Cemetery in the King David section of the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Alzheimers Association at www.alz.org or an association of your choice. Please visit her webpage at www.woodlawnnorfolk.com to leave a condolence to the family.