Helene S Edwards

Helene Sirota Edwards, 93, born on January 12, 1932, in Washington D.C to Irving and Esther A. Sirota, passed away peacefully on March 22, 2025. She graduated from George Washington University and worked for the Federal government in children’s services before marrying and moving to Jacksonville in 1955. She met her husband, Marvin, as a consequence of the funeral of a shared relative by marriage. Falling in love at first sight, they enjoyed a marriage that lasted nearly 63 years. As one of four beloved sisters, keeping family connected was of the utmost importance. Helene hosted countless family gatherings, visits and reunions with extended family and diligently documented the family’s genealogy and history. Helene also greatly valued, and shared with her family, countless lifelong friendships. In addition to running a household and raising three Type A children, Helene provided invaluable support to Marvin’s investment advisory business, muckraking journalism, and community causes. Mom’s pursuits included working as a substitute teacher and a realtor for Watson Realty, traveling the world with her husband, building an extensive miniature teapot collection, tending to an overflowing flower garden, being a legendary cook with a library of family favorite recipes, gifting her delicious zucchini bread, and delighting us with her addiction to ice cream. Always ready to volunteer, Helene was active in her children’s school PTAs, supplied baked goods for school functions and synagogue events, helped organize charity functions and gave hours of her time to Community Hospice and Palliative Care and River Garden Senior Services. Understanding the importance of education, she ensured her kids prioritized schoolwork. This included support with school projects and never missing parent-teacher conferences. Helene lives on in the inspiration and values she instilled as a role model for her children, grandchildren, and their respective spouses, all of whom Helene treated as if they were her own children. Her extended family remembers her as loving and caring, with a wonderful sense of humor and wit, always a personal cheerleader and an engaged caretaker. Her soul was as beautiful as the flowers in the garden she so carefully tended with love. Helene was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Raymond Edwards, and is survived by her children, Jeff (Mary), Doug (Kristen), and Carolyn (Dan Malis) Edwards, her grandchildren, Lauren (Adam) Miller, Christopher and Michael Oliveri, and Adam (Aaron Rothman), David (Grace), Nathaniel, and Avalon Edwards, her sister, Joan (Norman) Gurevich and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Helene and her family greatly appreciated the outstanding care and companionship provided by the caregivers from Synergy HomeCare and River Garden Senior Services. A celebration of Helene’s life will be held at 11 AM, Friday, March 28, 2025, at Congregation Ahavath Chesed, The Temple, 8727 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Congregation Ahavath Chesed, River Garden Foundation or Community Hospice & Palliative Care.

To view the livestream of Helene's service, please visit:

https://Thetemplejax.livecontrol.tv/427a40ab