This is a compilation of archived information I have accumulated for my mysterious Polish grandmother. Although I grew up in the knowledge that she had left my newborn mother in a babies home in Devon in 1943, I knew very little about the details of her life....or even her name. I tracked her down initially through records belonging to her 2nd husband, my grandfather, Stanislaw Lis.

More information about her life can be found here.

Helena Konopka.jpg — Helena Rothenberg Archives

Birth Record

Stryy Jewish Registery

Malie ROTHENBERG 1902B PL_1_300_2338_0072.jpg

Helena Rotenberg Baptism Certificate

Translation

Helena (Theresa Maria Anna) Rotenberg was baptized on 15th of October 1926 in Lwów Archsee

Father’s parents (Paulus Rotenberg) are Zenenis and Rosilia

Mother’s parents (Franciszka Probst) are listed as: Georg and Felicja [GERSCHON AND FRIMET]

This document unlocked the family of Pinkas/Pawel Rothenberg because it provided his parents names. The search for Helena’s family was difficult because the names changed so often and Jewish names were replaced with Polish names beginning with the same first letters i.e. Gerschon and Frimet Probst/ Propst became Georg and Felicja. The baptism certificate and DNA together led to a connection with the family of Pinkas brother Leo /Leiser, now living in the U.S.A. ‘Zenenis and Rosilia’ were in fact Zindel and Rosa Rothenberg, from Drohobycz, Poland.

Helena Conversion 1.jpg — Helena Rotenberg conversion record

The document is issued by the Lwow Registrar’s Office on 18 October 1926.
Helena’s details are given as being born in Stryj County on 8 May 1910, the daughter of Pawel ( Paul) Rotenberg and Franciszka ( Francis) Probst . Her birth was recorded in the Jewish register in Stryj . She is single and living at 10 Teatynska St, Lwow. On 18 October 1926 she officially renounces the Jewish faith.
The remainder of the annotations on the document are administrative, such as recording that this document was entered into the County records on 20/1/1927

Helena Rotenberg 1st marriage to Gustaw Kozdon, Lwow

Translation:

Helena Teresa Maria Anna ( 4 names) Rotenberg, daughter of Paul , Industrialist, and Franciszka Probst originally from Stryj residing in that same place. (The extract is quite specific in naming the parents as Pauli et Franciena)

Kozdon. Gustaw Adolph, Agronomus , son of Paul and Aimia Broda originally from Orderberg now living in Leopolis ( Lwow).

Helena and Gustaw married on 23rd November 1927 in Lwow

The text underneath is dated 1927. Gustaw’s profession is listed as Agranomus, which roughly equates in modern parlance to a Trading Standards Inspector. His family appears to have come from Orderberg ( Bohumin in Polish) in the Czech Republic, just across the Polish border and they are living in Leopolis ( Lwow) The Probst’s are still listed as living in Stryj. Helena is 20 at the time and is not listed as having a profession or as a student. The remainder of the text lists the various dispensations issued by the Church to enable the marriage to proceed. The wedding took place in St Andrews Church, in the Bernadine Square in Lwow