Obituary of Hélène Marguerite Combret

 Hélène Marguerite Combret

1936-2026

Hélène was born February 22, 1936, in Brest, France.  Hélène was predeceased by her partner of 50 years, Ken Elliott, by her sister Laurette.  Hélène leaves her stepdaughter Susan (Jerry), and three grandchildren, Eliana (Patrick), Aaron (Anna) and Joshua.

Hélène’s parents, Juanita Garés and Roberto Combret had three children, Hélène, born in 1936, Laurette, born in 1939, and finally the youngest, Robert, born in 1940. During World War II, Helene’s father, Roberto was in the Navy, he was killed in an incident of friendly fire in 1940.  The French navy had been attacked by the British at the naval base at Mers El Kébir on the coast of Algeria. The attack was part of a British plan to destroy French ships to prevent them from falling into German hands. This incident changed the lives of the Combret family. Juanita moved her children, with help from their nanny, Nete, from Brest in 1941, to Valencia, Spain, when Hélène was 4 years old. They wanted to be close to Hélène’s maternal grandfather who lived in a rural part of Valencia, Spain. They were familiar with the area, having visited family and friends there on holidays, she described very fond memories of spending time with her grandfather there.

Hélène’s nanny, Nete, helped to raise the Combret children and provided much needed continuity during the war years and after Roberto died.  Nete was like a second mother to the family, and Hélène and her mother stayed in touch with Nete until she died in the mid 1990s. Hélène’s mother, Juanita, also died in the mid 1990’s.

In Valencia, Hélène’s family was especially close to the Montesinos Safranez family, the Combret Family was warmly welcomed by them, and they became like family to each other.  As a French national, Hélène and her siblings went to the French schools in Valencia, and they became bilingual in French and Spanish. The Montesinos daughters, Juana and Ines were close to Laurette and Hélène.  Laurette was especially close with Juana, while Hélène was a friend of Ines.

Later when Hélène had completed high school, her mother, Juanita moved with Roberto and Laurette to Madrid.  Soon thereafter, when Hélène was 18 years of age she moved to Paris for a short time, working as a clerk in a Clinique boutique. When Hélène was about 20 years of age she moved to London, England, where she lived for about 10 years. At first, she worked as an au pair for a family with three children.  She became fluent in English and then worked as a translator in film production in her dream job on the movie set of Dr Zivago. 

In 1972 she moved to Toronto, where she worked as a translator in a news outlet, using both French and Spanish.  Very quickly in Toronto Hélène met her spouse to be, Ken Elliott.  She felt he was a kindred spirit with his British accent, quirky sense of humour and love of sailing.  A few years later Hélène landed a plum job at the Royal Ontario Museum, again as a translator, where she stayed for 15 years until her retirement in 2006 translating the exhibits into French.

In the early 1980s Hélène studied film part time at Atkinson College, York University, where she proudly earned her BA, while continuing to work full time at the ROM. Hélène enjoyed the occasional trip to Spain, going to restaurants, movies, and noshing in Toronto cafes. She was known for bringing delicious pastries to family birthday parties. Hélène and Ken moved to Kitchener Waterloo in 2012 where they spent many happy years with Ken’s children, Susan and Paul, and being attentive grandparents to Eliana, Aaron and Joshua.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the Erb & Good Funeral Family Home,171 King St. S, Waterloo. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the K-W Humane Society and may be arranged through the funeral home at 519-745-8445 or www.erbgood.com.