Helena - A Tribute

Prince Albert was enriched by Helena Marincowitz. It is with great sadness that her many friends heard of her passing on Monday, 9th July. It was like a much loved tree which over a lifetime had showered only goodwill and had finally fallen. She leaves a huge legacy.

Helena was a people person. All who came into contact with her attest to her genuine warmth, her personal concern for their welfare, her enjoyment of a funny situation, her love of life. She was a visible presence in the community life of Prince Albert, no matter where one was placed socially or what your circumstances, she committed herself to improving the life of others and supported good causes.

Having travelled abroad, Helena held a world view that was able to adapt to the changing situations around her, recognising what was valuable and what was worth fighting for. Many were unaware of the hardships and challenges she had to work through, while she remained uncomplaining, never bearing a grudge.

As a person of vision she worked hard in seemingly impossible situations to record and promote Prince Albert’s socio-cultural and architectural heritage. Her well-researched books and articles, too numerous to mention here, are dedicated for all time as a legacy to this town. Many of the illustrations in her books were hand-drawn by herself, down to the last detail. She was meticulous and generous about giving recognition in her books to those who assisted in their production.

Helena loved the written word and had a natural instinct for writing. Together with Dr Jan van Heerden, she helped to launch the flourishing Prince Albert Writers’ Guild, which maintains much of the inspiration she brought to it.

Writers’ gatherings were always enriched by her contributions, whether about an Afrikaans or English author or about the importance of archiving ‘local memory’.

The Prince Albert Cultural Foundation was sparked into life through her enthusiasm. Having brought together all the local initiatives which have recognised the unique attributes of this Karoo town, the Foundation has grown from strength to strength, and is the platform through which its cultural life can be enjoyed and the conservation of its significant heritage can be achieved.

On hearing of her steady decline, and at a time of great uncertainty about her health, her friends wrote their personal tributes to her and compiled an album which perpetuates her involvement in the cultural affairs of Prince Albert and the district. This album is now an even more fitting tribute to the love she unwittingly instigated in others and can be seen at the Fransie Pienaar Museum.

Her pillar of support has been Oom Pat, who encouraged her throughout in her research and authorship of a library of books, and brought his own particular wisdom to enrich the local content.

Helena, together with your family and many friends and colleagues, we honour your memory and console ourselves with the enrichment you brought to our lives. With that knowledge, may you rest in peace.

Helena, saam met jou familie, vriende en kollegas, eer ons jou nagedagtenis. Jy het ons lewens verryk met jou kennis en onblusbare entoesiasme. Ons vind troos in die wete dat jy nou in vrede rus. - Skrywersgilde / Writers' Guild