Helen Marie Peltz Diamond

Helen Peltz Diamond, 103, died peacefully at home on Feb. 1, 2018. She was born in Baltimore, MD on the Fourth of July, 1914 to Fanny (nee Schemer) and Harry Peltz. Within a year she moved to Jacksonville with her parents and older brother, Mitchell. In 1916 her younger sister and life-long best friend, Sylvia “Tootsie” was born. Helen graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1932, and subsequently married Frank Diamond, a Jacksonville native, in 1934. In the late 1930’s the couple moved to Atlanta, where Ivan and Rita were born. Towards the end of World War II, they returned to Jacksonville, when Frank was stationed at NAS Jacksonville. The family initially made their home in the North Shore area, before moving to the South San Marco neighborhood in 1952. Helen lived the rest of her life in that same home. Helen devoted her life to her friends and family. She was a gracious hostess to her husband’s business associates at Gulf Life Insurance Company, and was a noted baker and cook. All holiday dinners for the family were held at her home, with cooking and other preparations shared with sister Tootsie. She was charming, witty and hospitable, and always looked for the good in others. She was a life-long member of The Jacksonville Jewish Center and Hadassah; she was a member of the River Garden Auxiliary and The Center Sisterhood.

Helen was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Frank Diamond; her brother, Mitchell and sister, Tootsie; her dear son, Ivan Diamond and his wife, Penny; and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by her daughter, Rita (Dr. Mandell) Stearman; her grandchildren, Elizabeth Diamond, Daniel (Laura) Diamond, Marla (David) Campbell, and Stacy (Michael) Turner; and great-grandchildren, Zoe, Jill, Frank, Charlie, Harper, Jacob, Mia, Mackenzie and Samantha; as well as many close nieces and nephews who were like her own children.

The family thanks her wonderful and devoted caregivers over the past 7 1/2 years, who enabled Helen to stay in her own home, as was her wish; among them Frances, Sherry, Willeen, Jackie and Erica. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Helen’s name to The Jacksonville Jewish Center, 3662 Crown Point Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257, or the charity of one’s choice.

Services will be held Sunday, Feb 4 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hardage-Giddens Chapel, 4115 Hendricks Ave, followed by interment at the New Center Cemetery at Evergreen Cemetery.

Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family.