Hellen (also known as Elena) Illas was born April 5, 1908 in Havana, Cuba, the daughter of Jose Benito and Maria A. Illas. She and her two siblings- Carmen born 1911, and Jose Jr. born 1919.
Hellen's father Jose was a watchmaker, and he arrived in the United States on June 3, 1930. He anglicized his name to "Joseph", and prepared a home for the family at 133 W. 116th Street in Manhattan.
On July 12, 1930 Maria and the three children left Cuba on the S.S. Havana, arriving in New York City on July 15, 1930.
Hellen was five feet tall, with brown eyes, brown hair and a dark complexion when she came to the United States.
In 1940 her father owned his own watch repair and jewelry store, with her brother also working for him as a watchmaker. In 1950 Hellen too was working for her father as a salesgirl, and acquired a Social Security number "before 1951" in New York state. She was able to begin claiming her Social Security benefits on October 28, 1970.
In 1942 the business was located at 1717 Madison Avenue, and in 1960 it was at 3367 Broadway. Hellen's father Joseph Illas died on January 14, 1958.
Hellen's last residence was in New York City. Hellen "Elena" Illas died November 23, 1999 at NY Health and Hospitals/Bellevue. She was buried February 15, 2001 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com; US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; 1940 and 1950 US Federal Censuses; NY, US Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists; US, City Directories, 1822-1995; NY, NY, US, Death Index, 1949-1965; NY, US, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794-1943.
Hellen's father Jose was a watchmaker, and he arrived in the United States on June 3, 1930. He anglicized his name to "Joseph", and prepared a home for the family at 133 W. 116th Street in Manhattan.
On July 12, 1930 Maria and the three children left Cuba on the S.S. Havana, arriving in New York City on July 15, 1930.
Hellen was five feet tall, with brown eyes, brown hair and a dark complexion when she came to the United States.
In 1940 her father owned his own watch repair and jewelry store, with her brother also working for him as a watchmaker. In 1950 Hellen too was working for her father as a salesgirl, and acquired a Social Security number "before 1951" in New York state. She was able to begin claiming her Social Security benefits on October 28, 1970.
In 1942 the business was located at 1717 Madison Avenue, and in 1960 it was at 3367 Broadway. Hellen's father Joseph Illas died on January 14, 1958.
Hellen's last residence was in New York City. Hellen "Elena" Illas died November 23, 1999 at NY Health and Hospitals/Bellevue. She was buried February 15, 2001 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com; US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; 1940 and 1950 US Federal Censuses; NY, US Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists; US, City Directories, 1822-1995; NY, NY, US, Death Index, 1949-1965; NY, US, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794-1943.