The Helen Polioudakis Siedel Collection
Title
Subject
Description
Abstract
An only child, Helen Gloria Polioudakis was born in 1926 to immigrant parents: Gregory Polioudakis of Crete, Greece and Anna Francis Dubiel of Poland. She attended Chicopee Junior High School and Chicopee High School graduating with the Class of 1944. Her father worked at Gilbert and Barker Manufacturing Co. in West Springfield for over 30 years.
Helen’s childhood homes in Chicopee were in multi-family homes on Front Street, Captain Mac Street and Hampden Street that her parents rented. Around 1943, her parents purchased a two-family house at 19 Mellen Street, which she later owned, and continued to live there until her death on December 19, 2017.
Helen was a member of the Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church and for many years, as a young adult, active with the Chicopee Falls Chapter of the Greek Orthodox Youth of America and the Greek Ladies Society. Numerous times she served as committee chair and an officer including President.
After graduation, Helen was a clerk at Steiger’s Department Store on Main Street in Springfield. That followed with more than a dozen years as a mail clerk and comptometer operator for Westinghouse Electric Corporation in East Springfield. In 1960, Helen accepted a position as a certified clerk and typist with the Chicopee Civil Defense Department where she worked for 10 years in City Hall. Helen was promoted to Assistant to the Director serving David J. Hopkins, Fred St. John and Jeremiah J. Falvey. In 1970, she transferred to the Parks and Recreation Department and for an additional fifteen years worked with Directors Armand Fortin and Roger A. LaPlante. Helen was also an active member of the Chicopee Municipal Employees Association.
Helen married John Benny Siedel on June 11, 1983. He was also of Chicopee and a Chicopee municipal worker. After serving in the Marines during WWII, he worked 30 years for the Chicopee Sanitation Department where for many years he was Supervisor. They did not have any children.
Helen Polioudakis Siedel retired in 1985 as a 25 year Chicopee Municipal employee. After retirement Helen helped organize the Chicopee Administrative Retired Employee Club and was President of the Chicopee Over 60 Club. She passed away on December 19, 2017 at the age of 91
Creator
Source
Publisher
Date
Contributor
Charles Abel - CPL Local History Reference Librarian
Format
Extent
Identifier
CPL-HelenPS-Classof1944;
CPL-HelenPS-Work;
CPL-HelenPS-Residence;
Collection Items
Chicopee High School Portrait of Helen G. PolioudakisBlack and white sepia toned with added color senior portrait in folder
Off white stiff fabric circular collar with 2 snap closures. Possibly for graduation ceremony or chorus.
Chicopee Junior High School Certificate for Helen PolioudakisBlack and white graduation Certificate with Principal & Superintendent signatures. Dated June 20, 1941. Helen attended Chicopee Junior High School…
Chicopee High School Diploma for Helen PolioudakisBlack and white Diploma with School Committee Chair, Mayor, Principal & Superintendent signatures. Dated June 22, 1944. Chicopee High School included…
Framed Dried Flowers Gift from Mayor Kumor to Helen Polioudakis SiedelShadow box frame with eleven dried dogwood flowers on stems. Sticker states "an Original" by James R. Hawkins, Springfield Mass. "Keep out of Direct…
Boy Scouts of America Certificate of Appreciation to Helen PolioudakisBoy Scouts of America Certificate, dated June 20, 1961, by The Executive Board of the Pioneer Valley Council, Inc. to Miss Helen Polioudakis for "Her…
Chicopee High School Yearbook Receipt $3.00Yearbook receipt dated January 24, 1944 for three dollars recieved from Helen Polioudakis to Room Chairman Viola Priog
Chicopee High School Report Card (1943 - 1944) for Helen Polioudakis12th Grade Report Card for Helen Polioudakis at Chicopee High School. Grades for 4 terms in the 1943/1944 academic year. Subjects graded include…
Chicopee High School Report Card (1942 - 1943) for Helen Polioudakis11th Grade Report Card for Helen Polioudakis at Chicopee High School. Grades for 4 terms in the 1942/1943 academic year. Subjects graded include…
Chicopee High School Report Card (1941 - 1942) for Helen Polioudakis10th Grade Report Card for Helen Polioudakis at Chicopee High School. Grades for 4 terms in the 1941/1942 academic year. Subjects graded include…
Chicopee High School Class Scheduling Card (1942 - 1943) for Helen Polioudakis11th Grade Class Schedule Card for Helen Polioudakis at Chicopee High School. This 1942/1943 academic year schedule card includes class period, day…
Scholarship Award for Term Ending June 23, 1939 for Helen PolioudakisCenter Junior High School Scholarship Award certifies that Helen Polioudakis is on the Credit List in Grade 7 for Term Ending June 23, 1938. Signed by…
Scholarship Award for Term Ending April 21, 1939 for Helen PolioudakisCenter Junior High School Scholarship Award certifies that Helen Polioudakis is on the Credit List in Grade 7 for Term Ending April 21, 1939. Signed…
Scholarship Award for Term Ending February 17, 1938 for Helen PolioudakisCenter Junior High School Scholarship Award certifies that Helen Polioudakis is on the Credit List in Grade 7 for Term Ending February 17, 1938.…
Scholarship Award for Term Ending December 23, 1938 for Helen PolioudakisCenter Junior High School Scholarship Award certifies that Helen Polioudakis is on the Credit List in Grade 7 for Term Ending December 23, 1938.…
Scholarship Award for Term Ending October 28, 1938 for Helen PolioudakisCenter Junior High School Scholarship Award certifies that Helen Polioudakis is on the Credit List in Grade 7 for Term Ending October 28, 1938. …
Chicopee Junior High School Report Card (1940 - 1941) for Helen PolioudakisChicopee Junior High School 9th Grade Report Card for Helen Polioudakis. For 5 periods in the 1938/1939 academic year (Oct., Dec., Feb., Apr., June)…
Chicopee Junior High School Report Card (1938 - 1939) for Helen PolioudakisChicopee Junior High School 7th Grade Report Card for Helen Polioudakis. For 5 periods in the 1938/1939 academic year (Oct., Dec., Feb., Apr., June)…
Shorthand class test for Helen PolioudakisA shorthand test on Proofreaders' Marks taken by Helen Polioudakis. Grade B+
Shorthand summary document created by Helen PolioudakisFour page document of "Brief notes" with shorthand information in column form showing English word and coresponding shorthand symbols. Found inside…
Certification of Completion for Clerical Management TrainingThe Institute for Governmental Services of the University of Massachusetts hereby acknowledges the contribution of Helen G. Polioudakis toward teh…
Letter from University of Massachusetts at Amherst Institute for Governmental Services to Helen PolioudakisLetter welcoming participation in the Clerical Management training course which was held on Tuesdays starting September 30, 1980 through December 9,…
Shorthand Notebook from Helen PolioudakisSteno notebook with shorthand writing by Helen Polioudakis dated January 17, 1955. Manufactured by The Gregg Publishing Company. Helen Polioudakis…
Newspaper Clipping Photo of Helen Polioudakis at City of Chicopee Holiday SocialNewspaper photo from the City of Chicopee Administrative Employees Association Holiday Social. Chairman Richard P. Kendra is handing out gifts to…
Newspaper Clipping about Chicopee Civil Defense including Helen PolioudakisNewspaper clipping with article and photo of Helen Polioudakis and Director of Civil Defense David J. Hopkins
Chicopee City Hall Employees Association Hawaian Party PhotoBlack and white photo from the City of Chicopee City Hall Employees Association Hawaian Party which took place on May 23, 1963. Helen placing a few…
Chicopee High School Class of 1944 YearbookLast four pages of 1944 Chicopee High School yearbook. Last page is pressed cosage from Helen's Uncle John and Uncle Walter. Second and third to last…
Chicopee High School Class of 1944 45th Reunion Photo, 1989Chicopee High School Class of 1944, 25th Reunion. Helen in back row center in white shirt (3rd row 5th from left)
Portrait of Kornelia "last name unknown"Black and white sepia toned senior portrait. Signed. Second name starts with "J" but unreadable.
Cathedral High School Portrait of Eileen "last name unknown"Black and white sepia toned senior portrait in folder. Signed with Note.
Chicopee High School Portrait of Mary "last name unknown"Black and white sepia toned senior portrait in folder. Signed.
Chicopee High School Portrait of Genevieve S. Wyszynski "Jennie"Black and white sepia toned senior portrait in folder. Signed.
Chicopee High School Portrait of Sophie Audrey Wojdyla "Soph"Black and white sepia toned senior portrait in folder. Signed.
Chicopee High School Portrait of Helen Barbara Pula "Ginger"Black and white sepia toned senior portrait in folder. Signed.
Chicopee High School Portrait of Evelyn B. PrzystawczykBlack and white sepia toned senior portrait in folder. Signed.
Chicopee High School Portrait of Malania M. Polchlopek "Melanie" "Molly"Black and white sepia toned senior portrait in folder. Signed.
Chicopee High School Portrait of Sophie Ann PiantekBlack and white sepia toned senior portrait in folder. Signed.
Chicopee High School Portrait of Helen M. PartykaBlack and white sepia toned senior portrait in folder. Signed with Note.
Chicopee High School Portrait of Regina Bertha JarekBlack and white sepia toned senior portrait in folder. Signed.
Chicopee High School Portrait of Theresa G. LaBelle "Terry"Black and white sepia toned senior portrait in folder. Signed with Note.
19 Mellen Street, Chicopee Massachusetts; Helen Polioudakis Siedel HouseIn 1944 Helen, about 18 years old, moved to 19 Mellen Street when her father, Gregory Polioudakis, purchased the house. Helen became co-owner with her…
219 Hampden Street, Chicopee Massassachusetts: Helen Polioudakis HomeFrom approximately age 3 through 8 Helen lived at 219 Hampden Street, Chicopee with her parents. They rented in this two family house.
275 Hampden Street, Chicopee Massachusetts; Helen Polioudakis HomeFrom approximately age 9 through 17 Helen lived at 275 Hampden Street, Chicopee with here parents. They rented in this two family house.
480 Front Street, Chicopee Massachusetts; Helen Polioudakis HomeFrom for the first few years of her life Helen lived at 480 Front Street, Chicopee with her parents. They rented in this two family house.