Helga Weber

Helga Weber (nee Sommer) left us to begin her next journey in the early morning hours on Thursday, June 15, 2023. She is survived by her two children, Paul Weber and Terry (Teresa) Weber-Freeman, grandchildren Zoe Freeman and Joshua Loudermilk (wife Kimberly) of Long Beach, CA; her brother Wolf Sommer (wife Helga Greaver) of Monterey; her brother Klaus Sommer (wife Edlegard, children Kirsten & Carolin) in Germany; the nieces and nephews of brothers and sisters in Germany who predeceased her: Cordula, Michi, Steffi, Christina, Stephan, and their respective spouses and children. Brother and sister-in-law Alfred and Rosie Weber and their children: nephews Mark Weber (children Jake & Kelby and their mother Adriana); and Scott Weber (wife Frances, daughter Melanie); niece Tara Pretends Eagle Weber (son Ranson Horse) of Florida; and great-niece Brittney Ziga (husband Matt, children Adam and Aiden) of Ohio.

(Some of) The Story of Helga’s Life

On June 18th, 1925, I arrived as the firstborn of Herbert Sommer and Magda Sommer/n~ Hoffmann. 6 other children, 2 more girls, and 4 boys would follow to make a very nice family.

My father, Herbert Ivan Edgar Sommer, was born on March 2nd, 1894, in Riga / Latvia, at that time Russia. He was the 4th child of Emil Sommer, born 4.15.1855 in Freiberg/Sachsen, and Olga Sommer/n~ Martinek, born 3.26.1858 in Orzokoff /Polen. They had 2 other sons, Ferdinant and Felix, and 2 other daughters, Ella and Olly.

My mother’s parents, Paul Hoffmann, born 5.28.1870 in Berlin and Helene Hoffmann/n~ Spiesecke, born 7.30.1872 in Ragoesen, had 3 children 2 sons, Hans and Fritz and 1 daughter, my mother Magda.

The first few years of my life I spent in Berlin-Steglitz, where I also started school. Later we moved to the suburb Dahlem and a bigger home, where I continued my schooling and where I made many friends, and where we had a wonderful childhood.

The house had a big garden with many fruit trees and flowers and we shared a nice tennis court with the 2 other parties in the same building. There were many parks which we often walked thru on our way to school. We were real close to the woods and lakes which surround Berlin and enjoyed hikes and bike trips and had our first attempts at skiing.

In the summer we spent many weeks at the seashore, mainly in Ahlbeck on the island of Usedom in the Baltic Sea. And sometimes in the winter we skied in the mountains of the Erzgebirge in Gruenhainichen, where we had relatives. {Engelhaus} But when I was 16 my favorite place was Hindelang near Sonthofen/Allgeu.-- Beautiful mountains.

Then it happened, the war broke out. Many of our friends left because of the bombardments almost every night. My mother and the rest of the children were evacuated to the mountains. I had to stay behind with my Dad and the maid and to finish my education. The only Highschool left in West Berlin, was near the center of Berlin and I had to go there by S-Bahn. But much time was spent in our or other people's basements.

Finally in 1943 our house was damaged, while we were buried under the rubble of a building we had thought was safer. It was a scary situation because the basement started to fill with water and toxic fumes. But we were rescued the same night and moved in with some friends, while lnka, our polish maid, had to go to camp. That was a tearful separation because we had gone thru so much together.

Shortly after that, I left Berlin to take my Highschool exam in Cottbus, 60 miles southeast of Berlin. That was 1944. I returned to Berlin. My Dad insisted I go to Dresden, his alma mater and begin with my studies there in Architecture. I wanted to become an interior decorator. I studied there for 2 semesters until the air raids on Dresden, so far virtually untouched by war, began in February 1945.

Then the trecks with people trying to escape the advancing Russian army began to pour into the city, which was believed to be safe because it was full of field-hospitals. The Technich University Dresden was closed to house the poor exhausted people. This proved to be a big mistake because they all perished in the air attacks on Dresden which had no defense system because of the field-hospitals with Red Cross protection. Dresden and more than 13,500 people died the night of 2.13.1945. I had visited my Mom in the mountains during that time and lost all my belongings again.

I returned to Berlin to be with my Dad, but as the Russians surrounded Berlin he made me leave because he also was drafted into the Volksarmy. I escaped with the last train out to my family in the mountains and stayed there until the war ended not too long afterwards.

We had the white flags out for the advancing American troops, but as fate and the Malta-meetng decided we were to be occupied by the Russians. Fortunately, the retreating German troops had exploded an armored tank on the bridge leading to our village and we were protected from the worst. But we, us girls, spent many times hidden under the roof, waiting for the Russian soldiers to leave the village. Later a Russian officer was quartered in my aunt’s house. He convinced us that not all Russians are bad or communists. It was hard to believe after all that happened all around us.

There was no news from my Dad and so it was up to me to try to get to Berlin and find out what happened. I attached myself to a group of people trying to get to Berlin after being expelled from Tshechu-Slovakia. After a long 5 days march, mostly at night, via Dresden, we reached a cattle train in Jueterbock, direction Berlin. At that time Berlin was still totally occupied by the Russians.

I found a total mess, no more German street-signs only Russian writing, destruction wherever one looked, and anxious, hungry, tired distraught and exhausted people. However, our former neighbors had already returned and allowed me to stay with them while I was looking for my Dad.

Besides his colleagues and friends, I went to all the Russian comandanturas, thinking he [my dada] might be used as an interpreter because of his knowledge of Russian and various other languages. But nobody knew his whereabouts. I found work in a nursery and waited around.

Finally he came back one day, after being released from prison-camp with severe heart trouble, water almost up to his heart. One of my uncles made it possible for us to get on a truck going on the direction Slovakei. They dropped us near the village where my Mom and siblings were. Everybody was crying because we were so happy “all together”.

I did not stay very long and went back to Berlin where a few days later the Americans arrived and took over the sector of Berlin where our damaged house was. Since it was almost totaled—no water, no windows, no roof, no toilet and the rest in shambles—it could stay in our possession and the Family was allowed to return later and lived in the ruins for some time.

Again I left to get across the border between the Russian and English occupied Zone. That was difficult. The first time when I tried to crawl thru a field with 2 returning German soldiers, we got caught. “STOI” The Russian soldiers took us back to the next Comandantura in town into the basement but I was released the next day after a long interrogation.

Fortunately I found a job close by so I could find somebody who could take me across the border safely. Where I worked I met a few interesting Russian Stalin-soldiers who came to practice their French, English, and German with me. They even brought us food.

But finally I made it across, real sick with yellow jaundice, and I arrived in Hannover where my uncle lived. After I got well I tried to enroll at the University there but was not admitted because the returning German soldiers had preference. So I went on to Celle, where my Grandmother was evacuated. I stayed there for a few months and decided to get my Godfather, my mother’s brother Hans. He had been wounded and needed help to get home from southern Germany.

Unfortunately, it was winter now and the only transportation was coal-trains. We had to sit on top and when I arrived in Tegernsee, near Munich, I had a bad bronchitis and was out of it for 3 days in a displaced person camp. But in times like that people look out for one another and I got better In time to take a bunch of limping and crippled, lonely ex-soldiers to the Midnight mass on Christmas.

Shortly after that, I took my uncle back to Celle, this time in a regular train, and because of his severe injuries I was allowed to travel with him to help.

I worked in Celle for 6 months sorting parachute silk. One has to eat! Then I decided to return to Berlin. My Mom and siblings had returned to the house, or what was left of it, and I stayed with them and worked in an art & craft shop for a while.

My Dad was again in the hand of the Russians. They recruited all scientists and detained them in the Russian sector of Berlin to do translations. But at least we knew where he was and could even visit him. It was scary but we did it anyway because we could take food home. The Russians gave the scientists very good provisions.

A Dentist friend gave me a job for a while and later I started also at Pestalozzi-Froebel College, special college, to become an art and crafts teacher. In the evening I volunteered at a youth club established by the US Signal Corp, to get the German children of the streets. That's where I perfected my English and met some very nice soldiers who changed my idea about America.

My aunt Doris, who had immigrated to the States in 1923, sent us care packages and gradually life became bearable. But I do remember that my brothers had to stay in bed until noon in the winter, because it was so cold. And we had to go to the neighbor’s house, where some French detail lived, to get water. My sister Uschi later married one of the French soldiers and lived happily in Paris France and La Tranche Sur Mer ever since.

I will always thank my Mom and admire her for the strength she showed during those hard times alone with all of us to take care of, in that dilapidated place, no heat, no water, for a long while no windows, no toilet, and a roof with holes and no husband or help.

In 1948 my Dad was allowed to live with the family in West-Berlin but had to travel to the Russian Sector every day, to work for by then the East German government.

After finishing college I applied for a student visa to the US, but my aunt asked me to change it to an immigration request so I could work. Then she sent me the affidavit and the money for the trip and off I went again. This time I went via Paris where I visited my sister and her husband I crossed the Atlantic on the SS-lsle de France from Le Havre/France to NEW York/USA. I will never forget the arrival in New York Harbor, when we passed the Statue of Liberty. Everybody was on deck and there were no dry eyes. It was a very moving moment. My life in the NEW WORLD on a different continent began.

Life continued in the USA...

Helga lived her early life in Germany, born in Berlin, studied art in Dresden and was evacuated a few hours before the city was bombed. Helga lived through the war and became a certificated children’s arts and crafts teacher while in Germany.

She emigrated to the USA to go to school at Cal State Long Beach, but instead began working when her lodgings did not work out. She soon found work as a nanny for the three children of a Hollywood family in Encino: Richard Ralph Haymes, Helen Joanna Haymes and Barbara Nugent Haymes -- they were the children of actress Joanne Dru & actor Dick Haymes. She told many stories about that year with the Hollywood families and the children – Nugent, Helen and Dickie. “Nugent was the youngest one [that] I took care of most of the time. The others went to school already, in the morning.” (Helga did not know how to cook for children because she grew up in wartime, so it was all new to her.)
A Hollywood gossip columnist came to talk to her to try to get info on German celebrities but Helga’s young adult years had been consumed by war, and celebrity was far from her mind. Joanne Dru and family lived in Encino—far away from LB at that time. Helga had to take the red car out to the San Fernando Valley (no freeways at the time) and then a chauffeur picked her up at the red car stop and drove her many more miles into Encino, which was at that time, “in the country”. Being so far away from anything and from family, after a year she quit. She came back to Long Beach, moved into the YWCA, and began working at the Long Beach Day Nursery on Pacific Avenue. Later she became a dental assistant for Dr. Mulford Smith—a dentist to the wealthy folk of Long Beach.

Helga married Frank Weber, son of Rudolf and Clara Weber of Chicago. Helga and Frank purchased a house on Daisy Avenue “Christmas Tree Lane” in Long Beach. Later they bought a new home on Amelia Avenue in San Pedro. Helga and Frank had two children, Terry (Teresa) and Paul. Helga and Frank divorced around 1966 and Helga and the kids moved back to Long Beach, first on 33rd at Pacific and after a few years moved next door on Cedar Avenue. Helga continued her work as a dental assistant while studying Interior Design by correspondence course. She was always very good at making things beautiful without spending much.

When Terry moved out, Helga bought a two-bedroom house in east Long Beach, where she lived for 27 years until selling that house to Terry. Helga used the proceeds to purchase a place in Leisure World, Seal Beach. She retired from Petrolane while in Leisure World. Petrolane was her mid-life career change. She made many long and lasting friendships during the time she worked there. She enjoyed her life in Leisure World, participated in many activities, and continued making friendships with her neighbors. During her retirement she spent many hours with her grandchildren, babysitting, chauffeuring Joshua to the beach and back, volunteering at Zoe’s school, and spending many hours with her doing crafts, reading, visiting neighbors, and helping out while Teresa worked.

As Helga aged, Paul moved in with her and remained to care for her. At age 93 Helga began to exhibit signs of forgetfulness but still had a sweet and quiet demeanor. In the early morning hours of July 15, 2023, Helga slipped away at home in the arms of her son Paul. She was 97 years and 362 days old and would have celebrated her 98th birthday in three more days on Sunday, June 18, 2023.

Helga was an excellent and devoted mother, friend, sister, and relative. She was kind, loving, forgiving, and selfless. She taught her children to make the best of things and to do the best with what they had. She loved unconditionally. We were so fortunate to have her as our mom.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401